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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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The following evidence is taken for the prosecution :-

Hamid, sworn, states: I am coxswain of the boat "Dragon," Mr. Birch's own boat. I recollect going up the river two or three months ago with Mr. Birch. We left the Residency about half-past 5 o'clock in the evening. We arrived at Passir Sala in the middle of the night, about 2 a.m. In the "Dragon" boat there was one other white gentleman, Mr. Abbott, the rest of the people altogether were 13 of the crew and two of Mr. Birch's servants. There were two pull-away boats, a large one and a small one. In the large one were the interpreter and a crew of eight men and eight Sepoys. In the small one there were four of the crew and five or six Sepoys. There was a brass gun in the "Dragon," and a mortar in the big pull-away boat. We anchored in the middle of the river for the night. At daybreak the boats were moored alongside

Dragon the shore close to the shop of a Chinese jeweller at Passir Sala. The " boat was made fast to stern of the Chinaman's bathing house, the two other boats were behind. The men went on shore and cooked their breakfast. Passir Sala is on the right bank of the river. About half-past 6 Mr. Abbott went across the river to shoot. He went in the Chinaman's boat, and two of Mr. Birch's men went with him. When he had gone, Datu Sagor came across to Passir Sala side. He went into the Chinaman's shop and left his spear there, came out of the shop, and came into Mr. Birch's boat and talked to Mr. Birch. I was in the Chinaman's shop when he left the spear there. The Chinaman's house was about 10 yards from Mr. Birch's boat. Mr. Birch spoke to the Datu Sagor for about half an hour. I came out of the China- unan's shop and went to have my breakfast on the bank. Whilst I was having my breakfast, Datu Sagor came out of the boat and went into the Maharajah Lela's house, Then Mr. Birch spoke to Arshad, and I understood him to tell him to post some notices, and the interpreter went and put up three papers on the Chinaman's shop, and returned, saying he had done so. At the same time the Datu Sagor came back to the boat and talked again to Mr. Birch. Whilst he was talking to Mr. Birch, I went into I could hear them talking, but the boat, and sat at my place at the back of the boat. I couldn't make out what they said. There were a great many Malays on the bank close to the boat. I should think there were 30 or 40; they were all armed, most of them with two spears and a kris. Mr. Birch said, "What are all these Malays doing with arms, coming close down here?" He said, "Keep at a distance." 1 heard Rome of the Malays behind using abusive language. Then I went to sleep. When I went to sleep the Datu Sagor was still in the boat. I heard the men using abusive language, but I do not know whether Mr. Birch and the Datu Sagor heard it. I awoke and saw that Mr. Birch was not in the boat, nor yet the Datu Sagor, nor yet Arabad. I called to "Mat Tahir" boatman, and said to him, "Where is Mr. Birch ?" He replied, "At the bathing house." I sat down in the middle of the boat, and I heard some of the men say, "They have torn down a notice," and I then saw the interpreter go to the bank above the bathing house, and heard him tell Mr. Birch that they had torn a notice down. Then Mr. Birch said something to Arshad, and Arshad said to four the Malays, "Never mind this time, as you wanted one to read, but I will put up instead." Then Arshad put up some more notices in the Chinaman's house. Then Arshad was going towards the bath, when the Malays all called out “Amok," and stabbed him. Arshad then jumped into the river. Some of the Malays then tore down the notices, some ran to the bathing place, some to the boats. Arshad caught hold of the "Dragon" boat by the gunwale, and two Malays jumped into the Dragon," and cut him over the neck; then he let go his hold and floated down. I saw Mr. Birch's orderly swimming in the river holding a revolver out of the water. I saw two or three men jump on to the logs of the bathing house with weapons. ! jumped into the water with "Mat Tabir," and swam to the small pull-away boat which had shoved from the bank into mid-stream. I then went and took the interpreter on board, and then I asked the Sepoys to fire. They fired one volley, six or seven rifles. When the Sepoys fired all the Malays run away. We then dropped down the river. The Malays came after us, and fired at the boat. The Malays fired at us two or three times, then two men got into a boat and went across the river, and fired at us from the other side, When they fired from the other side all the Sepoys jumped overboard. Then I took a rifle and fired at the two Malays; they stopped firing at that place, and fired one gumen shot a little further on. When we reached Pasir Panjang, I saw that the interpaster was dead ; bo bad a very bad wound in his stomach, spear wound, and his bowels bad protruded. We reached the Residency about half-past 12 p.m. Arshad had three wounds, one in the stomach and two cut wounds in the head." Mr. Birch's orderly came down in the boat with us. I can't say how many there were in the boat, Boatman "Din," who went in the "Dragon" boat with us to Passir Sala was on

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shore when the disturbance took place. I never saw him, but I saw his body four days after in the river close to the Residency. I saw a wound in his breast, spear wound

I saw Mr. Birch's body four days after. It was brought by Dein Patando. Mr. Birch was wounded in three or four places, spear and kris wounds. I saw No. 1 tearing down the notices when the disturbance began, and he went down to the bath house. Before the row occurred, Mr. Birch was talking and saying what arrangements he would make at Passir Sala when Perak affairs were settled. I heard No. 1 abusing bim, and when the attack was made I heard No. 1 call out “ Amok,” “ Amok." I did not know him before, but I noticed him on that day, because of his having a curious skin disease and elephantiasis in one leg.

I recognise No. 2 as having been present at Passir Sala on the 2nd November, he was there when the attack was made. He had a spear. He was running about with a spear calling out “Amok.” I didn't know him before. I am certain about him.

I don't know No. 3. I don't know whether he was there or not. By No. 1.-You did have a spear and a kris?

By No. 2.--Whereabouts did you see me? I saw you close to the Chinaman's

house.

Did you see me stab any one ?—No. I did not.

(Prisoner says bow could I help being there; if I hadn't been there Maharajah Lela would have burnt my house.)

No. 3. No questions.

KOH AH YONG, sworn, states :- -I am a goldsmith. I live here. I used to live at Passir Salak. I was at Passir Salak when Mr. Birch was killed there. On that day the interpreter Arshad between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning came to my house and put up some notices on the shutter. Then some Malays came and looked at them. They took them down and said they were going to show them to Maharajah Lela. No. 8 was one of them. I know No. 3; his name is Che Ngah Ahmat, I have known him for about a month. As long as I was at Passir Salak he has lived there. Pandak Indut was another. No. 1I don't recollect. Mat Alli was one. When they had taken those notices away the interpreter came and put up some others. Just as the interpreter had finished putting up the notices the second time the men came back from the Maharajah Lela's Then they pulled down the notices and stabbed the interpreter. Pandak Indut stabbed him in the stomach with a spear, I was in the shop looking out of the window Arshad jumped into the river. Malays all called out " Amok! Amok 1" and rusbed down to the water's edge and to the bath house. I saw four or five men go down to the bath house. Amongst them there were Pandak Indut and No. 1. I don't know the names of the others. Before Arshad was stabbed I mw a Sepoy and a boatman standing near the door of the bath house. I don't recollect whether the Sepoy and boatman were there when the Malays rushed on the bath house. Two or three of the Malays got in front of the bath and two behind. Mr. Birch came up out of the water behind the bath, trying to get to the boat, when No. 1 cut him over the head with 'a long sword. The other man I don't know. I only saw No. 1 hit him, I saw him hit him three times. I was in the house at the time; I saw it plainly. I know No. 1. 'I had known him for more than a month The Chinese call him Jeloktong. I don't know what the Malays call him. He lives in Passir Sala. No. 1 had also two spears. At the time of the disturbance the Datu Sagor was on the bank.

I also saw Malaya go down and attack the Sepoys' boat, but I cannot describe what occurred there. The bath house was immediately in front of my house, about 5 or 6 yards distant. Mr. Birch's boat was tied to the back of the bath house, and the Sepoy's boat was bebind Mr. Birch's boat. I did not see No. 2 there I saw No. 8 at the time of the attack; he went down to the Sepoys boat he had two spears and a kris. I did not see what he did. There was a crowd of people. The spears were uncovered, and he brandishing them.

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After the row was over Maharajah Lala's brother, Che Ngah Jabbor, unloosed the 'Dragon," took it down stream a little way, took the things out of it, and took them to the Maharajak Lela's house. The Sepoys' boat was sunk during the disturbance. I saw all three prisoners taking things out of Mr. Birch's boat. The Datu Sagor put his spear in my house in the early morning, but at the time of the disturbance he had taken it back and was on the bank with it. No. 2 lived at Passir Sala. I had known him for about a month; but I did know his name. 1 had lived at Pasir Sala four mouths before the took place. After the disturbance when the Maharajah Lela was making a stockade at Passir Sala I saw the three prisoners helping.

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