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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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C.O. 882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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FROM THE CEYLON
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APPENDIX 4.
OBSERVER," 6TH NOVEMBER, 1912.
Toddy Taverns in the Vicinity of Estates.
Kandy.
A case of unusual interest at the present juncture was disposed of by Mr. F. R. Dias, D. J. Kandy, on Tuesday. The accused in this case, Galle Koswatte Ewaduge Charlishami, was charged with having caused grievous hurt to one Thandandi Alagau on the 8th September last by stabbing. Both accused and injured man were coolies on Glenary Estate, Matale.
Mr. T. B. MacGuffie said he was Superintendent of Glenary estate, Matale. The accused was a cooly under Brampy Bass. On the 8th September he paid Brampy Bass Rs. 25 on account of contract. On hearing of the affray he went up and found He also found Palaniandi on the Alagan on the ground with a severe stab wound.
An old woman ground, he was said to have been struck across the chest with a club.
Accused's father, named Vellakky also complained that she had been stabbed. Charlishami, complained that his arm had been hurt, but did not say by whom. Accused appeared helpless with drink. He was tied up, and all the people present charged him with stabbing Alagan. He was very violent, but said nothing. He sent for the Arachchi and gave accused into custody. There are two toddy taverns on two of his boundaries, and his coolies were now nearly always drunk, even on week days.
The Judgment.
The
In a lengthy judgment his Honour states that the evidence showed clearly that the accused had been running amok when hopelessly intoxicated with fermented toddy which he had procured from one of the two toddy taverns recently opened near two of the boundaries of Glenary estate. Drunkenness was not an excuse for crime, and in this particular instance the fact that the accused obtained the toddy from a licensed house in no way palliated the enormity of what he did to his unfortunate victim. The knife had been plunged two inches deep into Alagan's right side. His Honour next goes into the evidence. The accused had no quarrel with Alagan, and no provocation whatever which justified him in using a knife on him. accused denied that he stabbed the man, but could give no reason why he should be falsely charged, and he could not explain how the man came to have the hole made in his body, and one need not be surprised at that, remarks his Honour; as the Superintendent, Mr. MacGuffie, says, he was hopelessly drunk even when he was brought to the spot about 6 p.m. There was no question that a murder was narrowly averted on the estate, and Mr. MacGuffie was entitled to sympathy when he com- plained that since the opening of the two toddy shops near his boundaries his coolies were nearly always drunk, even on week days. The expediency of continuing these two toddy shops on the boundaries of this estate was not a matter which concerned the Court, but it might be usefully considered by the Excise authorities. The accused, for causing grievous hurt, got two years' rigorous and ten lashes.
FROM THE CEYLON "OBSERVER," 12TH NOVEMBER, 1912. Stabbing Affray on an Estate.
The Tebuwana police charged at the Kalutara Police Court on Monday Ramen, of Godahena Estate, with causing several injuries on Weiraiya and Moses kangani with a knife. It transpired in evidence that the accused had drunk toddy to his heart's content, and was having a dance in front of the cooly lines, brandishing a knife, when Weiraiya came to the place with a child in his arms.
FROM THE CEylon " Morning Leader," 16TH NOVEMBER, 1912. Causing Grievous Ilurt, Tangalle.
On Friday last a man of Kudawellekela, in Tangalle, who had previously borne a good character was charged before the District Judge with having caused grievous hurt to his wife with a coconut husk, which caused concussion of the brain and also endangered her life. The accused, who is a man of about thirty years, without any provocation and drunk with toddy, severely assaulted his young wife, who has three small children all dependent only on the daily earnings of the accused.
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FROM THE CEYLON "Morning Leader," 16TH NOVEMBER, 1912. Affray in a Tavern, Jaffna.
Police Vidane Muttucumaru Pillawner, of Tellipalai East, charged three persons of the climber caste before the Police Magistrate of Jaffna with committing an affray on Thenapali day in the toddy tavern at Tellipalai. The accused were found reeking with fermented toddy, and had an altercation, followed by an exchange of blows. One of the accused was armed with a knife and attempted to stab his rivals. But for the toddy renter and the salesman the affair might have resulted in serious consequences. The knife was dexterously taken out of his hands. The knife was produced in Court by the headman and the case is pending.
FROM THE CEYLON" MORNING LEADER," 9TH NOVEMBER, 1912. A Toddy Tavern at Bambalapitiya.
A toddy tavern has been established adjoining the Hindu Temple, Bambalapi tiya South, a few yards away from the Milagiriya Church and opposite the houses of several respectable residents. Things have come to a terrible pass of late, and every day and night for nearly a week the air has been charged with the foulest of language and the greatest rowdyism prevails.
*
FROM THE CEYLON MORNING LEADER," 12TH NOVEMBER, 1912. Three Murders in Chilaw.
Here are the first fruits of Excise reform in Chilaw. Last week, at Rajakada- luwa, a man shot his father-in-law. Then he fractured his head and jaw and limbs with a gun stock. The Police Magistrate, Mr. T. R. E. Loftus, found that the accused was reeking with toddy,
Yesterday another man under intoxication knifed his wife to death right in the public market of the town of Chilaw. This is the first murder in this town for twenty-five years.
Another murder is reported from Vennappuwa,
All three murders occurred in the vicinity of the new toddy shops set up by the Government and all were committed under intoxication by toddy.
FROM THE CEYLON " MORNING Leader," 14TH NOVEMBER, 1912.
Kegalle.
There is a toddy tavern at Pitihuma village adjoining the town limits. A few weeks back some villagers got drunk on toddy and there was a free fight. The police interfered. A villager called Dingiri Banda assaulted a policeman. He was tried and given three months' rigorous imprisonment. Drunken brawls are the order of the day in this hitherto peaceful village.
FROM THE CEYLON " Morning Leader," 18th November, 1912. Stabbing Case at Lunuwila.
A serious case of stabbing is reported to-day from the village Lunuvila, another 'Toddy Area."
The victim, a woman, is said to be in a precarious condition. A toddy shop was opened in this village less than a month I believe.
ago,
FROM THE CEYLON " MORNING Leader," 19TH NOVEMBER, 1912. A Stabbing Case from Jaela.
The trial commenced and was concluded yesterday before Mr. K. Balasingham, the Acting Additional District Judge of Colombo, of a man named Gabriel Nonis, who was charged with stabbing one Jusey Perera, a trader of Kala Eliya. The stabbing took place at Wewala, near Jaela, on the 22nd July last, on the opening day of a toddy shop there.
FROM THE CEYLON " Morning Leader," 9th November, 1912. Jaffna, 9th November.
Mrs. Eliza Martyn, of Beach Road, Jaffna, appeared before Mr. W. H. K. Campbell, Police Magistrate, on Tuesday last, and filed an action against John Rodrigo, a petition drawer, Patrick Weber, underguard C. G. R., G. Mendis, head cooly Č. G. R., and one, Gabriel, all of the Railway Approach Road, and stated that