PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
THITEC.O. 882
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
116
was susceptible of easy explanation, by every in dividual in Ceylon, when it was notorious, that a priest had no other dress in which to die, without submitting to the degradation of laying aside his priestly character, which he would do, by the mere act of laying aside, his robe, and covering himself with any other dress or cloth.
Had the priest expressed the slightest wish to divest himself of his robe, or to go to execu- tion in any other, his wish would have been in- stantly complied with, but he made none; and Mr. Parsons, the fiscal, in whose charge he remained till taken away to be shot, has written, in relation to the story that he had so applied, and been re- fused; to state that, although daily visited by him, and invited to mention any request which he had to make, he thanked him, and said he had none, except to desire that the regulations of the gaol as to food might be altered in his favour, so as to enable him to have his rice at the particular hour at which alone ́à «Buddhist priest is permitted to eat. The request was of course complied with- and it shows that he still clung to his priestly cha- racter, which he would have lost. by exchanging his tobe even for one instant. Such a request. he never made; and Mr. Parsons adda, that “from what he knows of the character and feelings of the natives, ko doon not think it likely he would have desired to be disrobed, and, had he been, it would have added to his disgrace.”. ¡ (Page 101.)
Captain Fenwick, who conducted his execution, Incl. 10, p. 90. confirms the statement of the fiscal, that no such request was ever made.
And a paper has been voluntarily placed in the hands of the Governor by the priests of: the two great temples at∙Kandy, to explain, the laws of Buddhu and the practice of Buddhist sovereigns as to executions and the disrobing of criminal priests, and expressly declares that it has been the enstam for Buddhist keings to put priests to death in the robes, and that mo-insult to their religion was falt by the Buddhists from the resent extention of Ka- hathi Ananas imbia:robes.
The question of the robes, thus.disposed of, the parülen notivo in getting my thona, changes,were reluctant to abandon udurtile a subject as the execution of a priest, under any circumstances.
Letter 12, Nov. 1849, p. 1.
117
And a story was then revived which had never before attracted a moment's attention to the effect that the witnesses against the priest were corrupt and perjurod that he was innocent of the charge imputed to him; and that Lord Torrington had rejected, in offensive terms, an application made on his behalf by Mr. Selby, the Queen's Advocate.
In every one of these particulars, this new story is as unsubstantial as the former one.
As to the character of the witnesses, Mr. Buller, the Government Agent, has transmitted testimonials from officers of the highest rank, civil and judicial, as well as from native gentlemen,, which disprove the attempt to blacken the character of Paleme- correhen Barnaike Nilleme, the Chief on whose evidence the priest was convicted, and show him to have been known as a man of respectability and good repute for the last thirty years.
2. Mr. Buller describes the proceedings in the court martial, at which numerous Europeans and natives were present, the senior Colonial Chap- lain, the Rev. Mr. Glennie, Mr. Staples, the District Judge, the Deputy Queen's Advocate, and a num- ber of European gentlemen and lawyers of the Supreme Court.
"Major Lushington, the President of the Court, asked the prisoner if he wished that any one should defend him? He looked towards Mr. Wilmot, the Advocate, but that gentleman touched, his hand, and asked for the kasir (the money); he said he had none; and, as no one would take up
the cause, the trial proceeded." (p. 6.) .......
It is essential to bear in mind that this scene took place in the presence of a number of lawyers, proctors, and advocates, who are now, the origins- tors of the repart that the priest had poţ a fair trial. The priest made, his own' defence, and Mr. Baller states thin, f whom he had finished and while the court was closed (in deliberation) several of the gentleman¡mid *llia, own defemps convicts him."
(Pago 7.) · He had in fact admitted all the leading points in the evidench, against him of adminininding an oath of allegienes, to the Pre tender, | but«added the childish explanation that by the King, hạ mennt, the Governor, or that he expected the King, weydd come to
do homage to thar Germ