129
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
T. W. Goonewardena, afid.
240
I am head clerk, Kachcheri, Galle. I remember the 3rd of June last. At about 9.0 a.m. that day there was a swearing of special constables at the Kachcheri. I saw the fourth accused there that morning. I saw him again at the Galle bazaar about 2.0 p.m. I was a special constable. There were disturbances at the Galle bazaar that day. I did not meet the Assistant Government Agent at the bazaar.
I and other special constables were trying to stop the disturbances. I the fourth
gave accused a man named Sarantuka, and asked him to get him to his place. I know the fourth accused had to pass Sarantuka's place on his way home. He went with that man. I saw him between 12.0 and 2.0 p.m.
At 10.0 we were
Cross-examined: I was at the Kachcheri from 8.30 to 10.0 a.m. asked to go to the Green. I saw fourth accused at the Kachcheri.
I did not speak
to him. I do not know him personally. I have not seen him before. I know that it was the police officer of Maitipe to whom I gave that man.
Mathes Appu (fifth accused), affd.
· On the 3rd I had a feast in my house. The feast was on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th June. My son married on the 2nd June. On the 3rd I was at home the whole
day. The relations came on the 3rd as well as on the 4th, according to the native custom. I am about 70 years of age. I swear that I did not take any part in any disturbances. I did not hear of any disturbances.
Cross-examined: The inmates of my house were my wife and my son who got married. My wife is a senseless woman. I did not leave the house because I had things in my house which I had borrowed. My son has another house close by. He got married in his house. I live at Kodakanda, close to Karapitiya. The Moor houses are very far away.
Aron (sixth accused), affd.
I know Karapitiya junction. I live one-and-a-half mile away from the junction. On the 3rd of June I was ploughing my land till about 12.0 noon. I began it in the morning. In the evening I prepared some land to plant vegetables. I have heard the witnesses for the prosecution. I deny that I took any part in the disturbances. Headji Marikar is not in good terms with me. He wanted to encroach upon my land, saying that the land he bought was less. For that we are angry. Hamadu Marikar bought some straw from me for Rs. 8. He gave me Rs.5 beforehand. He could not remove the straw, as it was destroyed by the floods. He asked me to return the money. I refused. My eldest daughter is eight years old my youngest son is one year.
Charles Silva (seventh accused), affd.
At about 1.0 p.m. on the 3rd I heard that there was a mob at the Karapitiya junction. I came to the junction. There came a crowd of people. They wanted to break the Moorish boutiques. I wanted them not to do so, and that I will give their names and implicate them. Then they went towards Labuduwa. There was a bungalow belonging to a Moor within my division. I was protecting my division till about 5.30 p.m. At that time there were not many people. I went home as I was not well. I did not get out of the house. I slept. The next morning I heard that the boutiques were damaged and fired. I went to see it. At that time I met the Kachcheri Mudaliyar. He asked me to make a report about my división. He went to Labuduwa side. I was under Government for twenty-four years.
I was never fined a single cent. As I did not allow the Moors to slaughter cattle in my division they implicated me in this case. I have witnesses to prove that I was in the house that day.
Cross-examined: My division is Godakanda, between Karapitiya and Labu- dluwa. I came to Karapitiya in the daytime. For twelve years I did not allow the Moors to slaughter cattle in my division. For that they are angry. The people who enjoyed beef are also angry with me. My witnesses are Mathes and Andiris.
H. Mathes, afid.
There
I saw the seventh accused going to the temple, passing my boutique. were some people on the road, and the seventh accused drove them here and there and went to the temple. I have a boutique about twenty-five fathoms away from the Moor boutiques. I saw him going to his house about 5.30 or 8.0 p.m. He did not come to the road after that. It was about 20 p.m. that he came to the temple.
Andiris, affd.
Seventh accused is my father.
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He came to his house about 6.0 or 6.30 p.m. on the 3rd June. After that he did not leave the house. I and seventh accused live in the same house.
To Court: In the morning he went towards the field at Kodakanda to prevent water flowing away. I did not go with him. He left the house at about 8.0 a.m. and returned at about 12.30. I do not know what he did during the interval.
James Weerawickrame (eighth accused), affd.
I heard the evidence given against me. It is false. I remember the 3rd of June. I did not know anything about the disturbances. I was planting some coco-nut plants in my garden. I did not go out of my house. The witness who gave evidence against me is very angry with me. I sent one of his uncles to one year's rigorous imprisonment. I gave evidence against his father recently in a case. Once I was discharged, and I was rearrested.
I
Cross-examined: I was in my garden that day. I met nobody that day. There was bell-ringing about 9.0 p.m. on the 2nd. I heard about the looting on the 5th. was fencing my garden on the 4th.
S. Wijeratne (ninth accused), affd.
I was never charged before. All the people will admit that I am a quiet man. I have done that work for thirty years. I got the title of Arachchi from Government about twelve years ago.
I did not go out of my house on the 3rd and 4th June, as I heard that there were disturbances in the bazaar. I closed my gate also. I live about half a mile away from the Karapitiya junction. If I had gone Moor people would attack me I am not a man who takes part in these disturbances.
I manufacture coco-nut oil. I supply oil for firms in the fort.
Cross-examined: I did not leave my house on the 3rd and 4th June. The crowd I heard that passed my house and went towards Labuduwa and towards Galle. there were disturbances, and I knew that they also went for the disturbances. I did not look at the people who went. My witness is Girigoris. M. Girigoris Appuhamy, affd.
My house is about seven or eight
I live near the house of the ninth accused. fathoms away. I heard that there was a disturbance at Labuduwa on the 3rd June. I saw ninth accused in his house several times from morning till evening.
Cross-examined: I saw no crowd passing. People passed on the road, but I did not observe. I did not see large crowds passing the road. I was at home the whole day.
Leva Marikkar, affd.
I was
I know the ninth accused. I know that on the 3rd he was at home. there working the whole day. I am able to say that he was in the house the whole day.
Cross-examined: I work for him. After working I go to my nephew's house in the evening. I did not go that day home. I came to ninth accused's house at about 6.0 a.m. on the 3rd. I do not know anything about the riots.
Tenth accused makes a statement.
Hinni Appu (tenth accused), affd.
Carter. On the 3rd I went at about 7.30 in my cart for work. I came home and untied the bull. It was about 12.0 noon when I came home. I took my break- fast and slept. I got up at 2.0 p.m. and came to the owner's house (owner of the cart and bull), and then I heard that there was disturbance at the bazaar. I was asked not to take the cart that day by the owner. So I returned home at about 3.30 and slept.
Cross-examined: The owner of the cart lives within sight. The owner of the cart was not at home. His wife was at home. I met the owner at about 4.0 p.m. As I was not questioned I did not give his name as witness.
In the case of the seventh accused there was insufficient evidence to convict him of any of the charges.
Evidence of the defence to try and prove personal animosity was not strong,
A. CHICHESTER, Lieut.-Colonel.
R