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The people had gone away. That boutique was occupied by one Missi Nona. I made inquiries and found that they were somewhere in a carpentry shed. I sent for the key. I came there with Omeru Abdul Cader and opened the door with the key.
I found a lot of goods in that boutique. I looked after the things, as Abdul Cader asked me to do so. One of the boutiques was looted and damaged. I did not take part in the riots. The evidence is false. Next day Mr. Woodman came there. I did not go before him. I had these things in my boutique till the 5th July, when a Moorman or somebody had made some complaint to Mr. Woodman, and I was arrested. I was brought to Kadugannawa. I came to Kadugannawa. Mr. Woodman had left and Mr. Devane was there. I told him the real facts. He told me to get the Moorman. On the 7th I was being brought to Kandy. At the station I saw the Tamby who gave those things to me. I pointed him out to the police ser- geant who was with me. Police sergeant questioned him about the things. He admitted. I was taken to Kandy. The sergeant came away, and I and the Tamby remained there. I told Mr. Devane what had occurred. Then I was let off and asked to deliver those things.
Cross-examined: I have no transactions with the Kadugannawa Tambies. I see no reason why they should give false evidence against me.
Police Sergeant 2204, affd.
I am sergeant in the Police Force, Maradana. I was sent to Kadugannawa on duty. I had a warrant against the Rabbegamuwa vidane, and I arrested him on a charge of having been in charge of looted property. He told me "“one Moorman gave it to me," and he was looking after it. I produced him before Mr. Devane.
I was taking him to Kandy on the following morning. When I was there a train arrived from Colombo. The accused pointed out a Moorman as the man who had given him the goods. I questioned the Moorman. He admitted that he gave those things. I informed Mr. Devane, who was at the station then. He asked me to let him, the accused, off, and accused asked me to deliver the goods to him, the Moorman. I con- veyed that message to the Peace Officer. I cannot say whether the goods were delivered.
Cross-examined: I was present when Mr. Devane discharged him. In the accused's house about five bags of areca nuts, lime, etc., were found.
To the Court: I am a Sinhalese.
Mr. Devane, sworn.
I am appointed a Special Commissioner. I went to Kadugannawa on about the 4th or 5th June. Mr. Woodman left soon after my arrival. The fifth was brought before me by a sergeant, on a charge of having looted property. He told me that property was given him by a Moorman. I told the sergeant to take him to Kandy. I saw accused at the railway station, Kadugannawa, that he was being taken to Kandy. When the train from Colombo arrived, the sergeant said that the owner of the looted property was in the train. He asked me to examine the Moor- man before other Moormen got near him. I examined him. He admitted that the property was given to the fifth accused to be looked after. I discharged the accused. Cross-examined: I did not see the boutiques of the Moormen. I was there as an assessor. I have conducted full inquiries about the fifth accused. Mr. Stevenson took the matter up on or about the 18th of June.
Sixth accused, Jayasingedera Ukkuwa, afid.
My age is about 60 years. I am vidane of Kotaligoda. On the 30th of May I did not go to Kadugannawa, nor did I take part in the riots. I was not well. I went to Kandy on the 28th, and went to Mr. Perera's dispensary. I was then suffer- ing from fever and swollen glands. I took the medicine and went home. I was ill till the 2nd. I came again on the 4th to the dispensary. I was much better then. I was suffering great pain. I could not go about rioting.
Mr. Perera, sworn.
I am medical practitioner. I am assistant to Dr. Hay. I practise in Kandy, and reside there. I remember the sixth accused come to me on the 28th May. He was suffering from fever. He had an abscess in his left arm. From my medical know- ledge I could say that the man must have suffered great pain. I prescribed for him and he went away. I saw him again on the 4th of June. I prescribed again. do not consider it likely for him to collect a crowd of men and go looting.
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With regard to the eleventh accused :—
J. Harward, affd.
27th July, 1915.
I am Director of Education. I know the eleventh accused. He is a Govern- ment schoolmaster, with thirty-one years' service. His record of work throughout has been a good one. He is one of the best teachers. I have never known the accused with any tendency towards what may be called an aggressive attitude.
A. W. D. Jayasuriya, affd.
I am a Government School Inspector. I have known the eleventh accused for Since then the last thirty-four years, from the time he was in the Normal School.
To the
I have seen much of him in my circuits of inspection once or twice a year. best of my knowledge he bears a very good character. He has never been known to have been mixed up in anything disreputable.
Buddhist boys attend the
To Crown Counsel: The accused is a Buddhist. school. Seventh accused, Jayasuriya Mudiyanselage Mudiyanse, affd.
I am the seventh accused. I am headman of Gane Pattu, Kegalle District. I have been headman for ten years. On the 30th May I was in my own house. I did not go to Kadugannawa. I had a pirith ceremony that night. A child of mine was unwell. The pirith ceremony began at about 7.0 or 8.0 p.m. on the 30th. Wel (vidane), Mudiyanse (Ganetenna teacher), and some others said pirith. It terminated in the morning. I know the Pinto Peace Officer. He is not in good terms with me. There was a quarrel between us, owing to his going to my division for some official
duties.
Cross-examined: His division is separate from mine. He went to assess some Careem damage by cattle trespass. I go there for my duty. He also used to go.
is angry with me because two years ago I had to arrest him for retaining a stolen goat.
Henaka Mudiyanselage Ukkuralla, affd.
Age 50. I have been korala of Gannegalboda for five years. seventh accused from his childhood. He is now an Arachchi under me. good character.
Ranhamy, Wel, Vidane of Mawala, affd.
I know the
He bears a
On the
I live in Mawala. It is in the jurisdiction of the seventh accused. 30th May last there was a ceremony at the seventh accused's house. It was a pirith ceremony. I am one of those who performed the ceremony. I went there at about 7.30 p.m. The accused was there. We continued the pirith till 6.0 in the next morning. All the time he was there.
Mudiyanse, of Mawala, affd.
On 30th May last, I went to the seventh accused's house. I got there at 7.30 p.m. Till next morning we continued
to say pirith as one of his children was not well. pirith. Till that time seventh accused was there.
Cross-examined: I had heard of the riots in Kandy. Sumitra, of Angoda, affd.
On 30th May last I went to the seventh accused's house at about 6.0 p.m.
There
was a pirith ceremony because one of his children was ill. We said pirith till the morning. The accused was there.
Weerappulia, of Angoda, affd.
I am a low caste man. So was the last witness, Sumitra. The seventh accused, Arachchi, is a high caste man. I remember going to his place on the 30th May, at about 6.0 p.m. I went there for a pirith ceremony, and said pirith till the following morning. The accused was there.
Cross-examined: He is my headman.
Eighth accused, S. D. Kobbekaduwa, affd.
I am a korala. My father is Ratemahatmaya. My grandfather is Rate- mahatmaya too. On the 30th May I went to Kandy to get some particulars about a police court criminal case. I met the Peace Officer. He spoke to me. I was at the Rum Fish Restaurant at the time. I told him why I came there. I spoke to him, and went home. I did not stay or take any part in the riot.
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