CO882-(3-4) — Page 50

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سلئسس

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C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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No. 1.-No questions. Says half what the prisoner said is correct, and half is not, By No. 2.--Did you see me go down to the Dragon ?--Yes, I saw you. What else did you see me do?-1 saw you take things out.

Where did you see me take things to ?—I saw you take them to the Maharajah Lela's

house.

When we went to fight did you see me go. No, I did not. No. 3.--No questions.

Mat Tahir, sworn, states :-—-

I am a boatmen. At the time the disturbance occurred at Passir Sala, I was in the Dragon" boat with Hamid. Mr. Birch was bathing. Arshad the interpreter went to put up some notices at the Chinaman's house. A number of Malays came calling out Amok, Amok. Arshad jumped into the river; then some men came into the boat and cut him over the head. I did not see Mr. Birch. Hamid and I jumped into the water at the time. I saw him and got into the pull-away boat with the Sepoys. I saw No.

on the bank at the commencement of the disturbances calling out "Amok! Amok !” He had a spear and a long knife, I don't recognise the other two prisoners.

No. 1.--No questions,

No. 2.-No questions.

No. 3. No questions.

The court is adjourned till to-morrow.

Trial resumed this day, March 4, 1876.

KOH AH YONG recalled, states :-

I saw the body of a dead boatman near my house after the disturbance at Passir Sala. I saw a malay man called Abboo drag the body and throw it into the river. About four days after the disturbance some Bugis men came from down stream, and I saw them taking away Mr. Birch's hody. It was a little to the down stream of the stockade. The body was made fast behind a boat, the Bugis being just in the act of taking it away. I heard the body was found on shore in the jungle. Rajah Dein was there, I did not see any Passir Sala people there.

Nos. 1, 2, and 3.--No questions,

HOO AH CHOCY, sworn, states :-

I was formerly cook to witness Ah Yong, and lived at Passir Sala with him. I was at Passir Sala when Mr. Birch was killed, about four months ago. That morning Mr. Birch's interpreter came to our house and put up notices on the window shutters. He then went down to the boat, and Malays came and tore away the notices. Pandak Indut was one of them. The prisoners were all near at that time. The interpreter came again after that, and put up other notices. After he had put up notices the dis- turbance commenced, and as the interpreter was going towards the boat, I saw Pandah Indut stab him with a spear, and he ran into the water. At the same time I saw Malays run down to the bath room all armed, with spears and other weapons. I then saw Mr. Birch in the water behind the bath house, and No. 1 cut him with a sword. I saw him make two cuts. When I saw Mr. Birch he was struggling in the water. Mr. Birch sank immediately after being cut, and I did not see him any more. After this I saw people go on board of Mr. Birch's boat, and take all the things on shore to the Maharajah Lela's house. Before the disturbance, I knew all the prisoners. I had lived at Passir Sala more than a month before the disturbance, and been in the habit of seeing all the prisoners. Nos. 2 and 3 were present during the disturbance, and were calling out "Amok! Amok!" they had krisses and spears which they drew and brandished.

the notices.

By No. 1.-Did you see me pulling down the notices Yes, I saw you pulling down Was it at the boat or at the bath house that you say I went to attack Mr Birch ?—---- At the bath house.

By No. 2.-You say that I was there helping to tear the notices down with a spear, I only had a knife?—You had a knife and a spear too.

The other day you could not recognise me, how is it you recognise me now ?--I did not say I did not know you, I said that No. 1 was the man who killed Mr. Biroh.

No, 3, No questions.

THOMAS KETT, Bworn, states:—I am clerk to the Resident. On the 19th of February last, by direction of the Deputy Commissioner, I saw No. 2 in the gaol at Bandar Bahru and told him he was charged with the murder of Mr, Birch, and that if he wished to say anything I would write it down. He made a statement to me which I wrote down at the time. This is the statement (marked A.).

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On the 20th February by direction of the Deputy Commissioner I saw No. 1 in the gaol at Bandar Bahru and informed him that he was charged with the murder of Mr. Birch, and that I would take any statement he wished to make. He made a statement which I wrote down at the time. This is it (marked B.).

Last Monday, 28th ultimo, I saw the prisoner No. 3 in the lock-up and told him the same thing. He made a statement which I wrote down at the time. This is it (marked C.).

No. 2's statement is read over.

No. 2 states it is correct, except that Tuah stabbed Mr. Birch with a spear, and did not kris bim.

No. 1's statement is read over. No. 1 says that it is all true. No. 3's statement is read over. No. 3 says that it is all correct. No questions from prisoners.

Haji Fatimah, sworn, states:--I lived once at Campong Gaja. I know most of the people in Passir Sala. I now live at Passir Pulai, and on the night of the day on which Mr. Birch was killed I was in my house, my husband being absent, when about 20 people who said they had come from Passir Sala came into my house, they had krisses and spears. They said they were going to “Amok” (a night attack) on the Residency. It was in the afternoon when they arrived. They called their head man Maharaja Serama. No. 2 was with them, they called him Gonda. I don't know whether that is his name or not. He said that he was going to attack the Residency. My husband came in the evening, and they tried to persuade him to go with them. Whilst they were in the house there came first four men and then again four men, the last four with guns. When the last four arrived they all went out of the house. That was about midnight. I don't know where they went.

No. 2 says,—I don't want to ask any questions. What she says is correct.

HAJI MAHOMED AMIN, sworn, states:-I live at Passir Pulai; it is close to the Resi- dency, within sight. I recollect the day Mr. Birch was murdered at Passir Sala. Į went into the house about 5 o'clock, p.m., and I found there a number of men, they said they were from Passir Sala. They said that they were going to attack the Residency. They had spears and krisses. Mabarajah Serama was their head man. They said the Mabarajah Lela ordered them. There was a man there called Tuah; he had

a kris and two spears which he said he bad got in Mr. Birch's boat; the speare had gold ferules. No. 2 was also with them, they called bim Gonda. They asked me first to join them in attacking the Residency, and I refused. Then then said, Oh! never mind, show us the way, that will do, and I refused that also. They pressed me to accompany them, and at last threatened. No. 2 was especially violent, abusing me. They said there was nobody there, they could take the place easily. I told them that a stockade had been made, and that the guns were all pointed up the river. I asked them not to go, because if they attacked Bandar Babru I should be destroyed, as the guns and rockets were pointing in the direction of my house. Then there came four more men who urged them to go on. They asked me for muskets. I said I had none. Then there came four more men with muskets, and again urged them to go on to the Residency; this time they all went. It was about midnight when they went, between 11 and 2 o'clock. Before they went down, they said, “We have agreed with the people across the river, and those at Bidiman, that we will set fire to a house and fire three “muskets, and then they will know we are attacking the Residency, and that they will all join and come and help." They went from my house towards the Residency. Early in the morning I saw them going back. I met four of thom on their way, and I heard that they had passed the night at an Indian corn field in the jungle. don't know

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why they did not attack the Residency. When they came into my house first in the evening they said they would dine in the Residency.

did.

By No. 2. Did I say that I was going to "Amok" the Residency ?—Yes, you LADOI BIN, SUBon, Inspector of Police at Bandar Bahru :-I recollect Mr. Birch being killed. Mr. Birch left this on the evening of the 1st November 1875 and the interpreter's body was brought down by the Sepoys and others on the following day, that is 2nd November. The interpreter was dead, and there were three Sepoys badly wounded. Arshad had an incised wound in the stomach, and his bowels protruding, and I saw a cut wound on the forehead. I did not examine him particularly, there may have been more wounds. The body was examined by an apothecary, Mr. Keun, who has since left the service. About two days after the body of a boatman floated

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380878.