CO882-(3-4) — Page 51

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 882

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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down, boatman named Din, he was one of the boatmen that went with Mr. Birch. He had a stab wound in the left breast, a cut across the right hand, and another across his left arm. I found the body floating in the river. Next day the body of a Sepoy who went with Mr. Birch floated down, he was wounded in the stomach apparently by and also on the back, apparently by a spear. On the 6th November Dein a spear, Patundo brought down the body of Mr. Birch. I saw the body but I did not examine it. Mr. Birch's body was examined by Mr. Legge, apothecary, who is not now

here.

This closed the case for the prosecution. The prisoners state that they have no witnesses, and in reply to a question whether they had anything to say,—

If I had not No. 1 states:--If I had gone, or if I had not gone it was just the same. gone the Maharajah Lela would have burnt my house and taken my property. 'I am He nobody, I am a Cooly, if I did not do it Maharajah Lela would have killed me. wanted me to give him dollars afterwards, and so I had to run away. If I have done wrong it is in doing the Maharajah Lela's business.

No. 2 says:-I can only say the same, the Maharajah Lela compelled me to go there, he stabbed me with a piece of iron because I did not want to go. He said that if we did come he would follow us, burn our houses, and take our wives and children, so I went.

No. 3 says:-I was not there at all at the time of the attack. I did not see the Chinaman except in the Maharajah Lela's bouse afterwards. I arrived after the murder was over. I saw the Chinaman then.

The Court is adjourned till 8 a.m. to-morrow.

March 5, 1876.

Case resumed.

RAJH DRIS informed the prisoners that they had heard all the evidence given during the last two days, and had questioned the witnesses, that he had found all the prisoners guilty of the crime charged against them, and that the punishment for their crime was death. He further stated that they would be executed by hanging, after the sentence had been confirmed by the Sultan.

EXHIBIT A.

SHE GONDAH states:-It was about the time that the Governor was expected in Perak Rajah Ismail called a meeting of the Chiefs and the Maharajah Lela went up to Blanja. I went with him as a poler on the day of the meeting I was present at the house of Rajah Ismail, and could see and hear almost everything that passed. There were present Rajah Ismail himself, Sre Maharajah Lela, Datu Sagor, Maharajah Lela, Panglima Prang Semaun, and Panglima Kinta. I heard Panglima Kinta say that he would sooner change his clothes for a woman's than submit to the wishes of the British Government. The Maharajah Lela said he would join in whatever the Panglima Kinta wished to do. Sre Mabarajah Lela and the others said the same; and Rajah Ismail said "whatever you (the Chiefs) 'do, I will confirm.'

About a month afterwards the Governor arrived at Qualla Kangsa, and several Chief went to meet him there, Maharajah Lela also went, but when Mr. Birch desired him to come to the presence of the Governor, he declined to go, saying he was suffering from a boil; soon after the Governor left Perak. (I don't remember dates) the Maharajah Lela sent out an order to all the people at Campong Gaja, Silat Pub, and Passir Sala to come and assist him in building a strong stockade round his house, he said he will fight the English, he will never run away; some Javanese and Krinches were also employed in this work, whom he paid by imposing a tax of $5 on every male adult in his district. Datu Sagor, Punghulu Muda Monthah of Campong Tengah, Panglima Prang Semaun, and Dein Meroh were always with the Maharajah Lela about this time. But Dein Meroh did not seem to wish to have anything to do with Maharajah Lela. I heard the Maharajah Lela once say," When Mr. Birch comes up we "must fight," Dein Meroh replied, "I have debts to recover at Kints, and I must go "there; very early one morning soon after all this, Mr. Birch arrived at Passir Sala. The Maharajah Lela immediately sent out for all the people from Campong Gaja Silat Pulo, and Passir Sala to assemble. There were with Maharajah Lela at this moment at his house, the Datu Saga, Dein Meroh, and Panglima Prang Semaun. Arshad the Interpreter came to the Maharajah Lela's "Balei" and said (to Maharajah "Lela Datu, Tuan wants you to come and see him in the boat." He said "I won't go

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down," Arshad asked "Will you obey Mr. Birch, or not," Maharajah Lela answered "It is not that I do not wish to obey, if Rajah Ismail submits, I also will submit." And Arshad returned to the boat. I saw Mr. Birch standing at the prow of the boat which was tied to the Chinese Goldsmith's bath house, and giving some papers to Arshad to post at the China shop. Pandak Indut, Pasjang Umbah and Tahar said to Arshad "Don't post the notices," Arshad said "I must obey Mr. Birch's orders." Then Pandak Indut went to Maharajah Lela and told him, and Maharajah Lela said "Go and do "what you wish," when Pandak Indut returned, he tore down the notices, and as Mr. Birch was in the bath house at the time, he and Ngab Jabbar (Maharajah Lela's brother) Che Alli, Tuah, and Sépǎtum ruslied upon him and speared and krissed him. None of them entered the bath house, they speared him from the doorway, As Mr. Birch was rising afterwards from the water and trying to get into his boat, Seputum cut him in the head near the ear with a "parang lading" and Tuah krissed him. Mr. Birch sank, and was no more seen, till three days afterwards, when his body came up, and two men "Battain" and "Udah" carried him into the jungle a little below Maharajah Lela's house, having first taken 3 rings from the finger, one snake pattern.

The Maharajah Lela afterwards called Pungbulu Udaḥ Adam of Silat Pulo, Dein Merob, Datu Sagor, Toh Lela Putra, Toh Bodoh, and Panghina Mudah Monthah to consult with them, and they sent Ngah Jabboh to Blanja to tell Rajah Ismail of Mr. Birch's death, and to ask for money and gunpowder. Ngah Jabboh was tardy in returning, and they sent Udah Adam together with the "Naga" boat. Ismail refused to accept the boat, saying that as the Maharajah Lela had killed Mr. Birch, he had better keep the boat, but he sent two barrels of gunpowder, no money, Maharajah Lela sent again, this time with some books and papers that belonged to Mr. Birch, the messenger returned, but brought no more gunpowder. About this time the English came and fought at the stockade at Bandar Tuah.

Maharajah Lela commanded from some distance, but did not fire a single shot. Panglima Prang Semaun was with him. "Tonday" is the name of the man who shot Captain Innes, he is still at Passir Sala. Three Malays were killed and two wounded at Bandar Tuah. Datu Sagor was on the opposite bank to Bandar Tuah at a place called Pulo Jua guarding a stockade there; and Dein Meroh remained in charge of the Maharajah Lola's stockade at Passir Sala.

After some days Ismail ordered all the people from Layang Layang downwards to go to the assistance of Maharajah Lela, but the English came again and fought at Passir Sala, and the Mabarajah Lela and all the Malays ran away. I don't know where Maharajah Lela is now. He took 100 men with him, and is now with Ismail. don't know where Pandak Indut is, his wife and children and his relatives are at Bagan Datu at Qualla Perak, near Kota Stia.

I

I

I bad nothing to do with the murder of Mr. Birch or with the subsequent events. was under the orders of the Maharajah Lela, and worked for him, but never in fighting, If I did not obey his orders my head would have been cut off.

19th February 1876.

EXHIBIT B.

SEPUTUM states :---I am a Perak man and have lived in the Maharajah Lela's district. Maharajah Lela is the head man, bat my house is in the village under the charge of Toh Lela Putra. On the day Mr. Birch was murdered I was going early in the morning to my paddy field. As I was going past the Maharajah Lela's house, he stopped me, saying that the "Orang Puteh,” have come to burn his house and there would perhaps be fighting. I begged of him to let me go on to my field as the buffaloes were damaging it, but he scolded me and ordered me to stop. I went and sat down near the house of Haji Dorashid close to the Chinaman's house, and presently I saw Arsbad, the interpreter, posting some notices on the wall of the Chinaman's house. Pandak Indut was present, and as Arshad was putting up the notices, he tore them down, one by one. Panjang Umbab and Che Tuah (a Battak) were with Pandak Indut. 1 heard Arshad say to Pandak Indut, "Why do you tear down the notices, they are not a book (kitap) nor the "Koran. After we are gone you may tear them." But Pandak Indut still kept tearing them away, and then he speared Arshad, and a fight commenced. A great many people were assembled all armed, and then I also went to the bathing house where Mr. Birth was bathing at the time. Ngah Jabbor speared Mr. Birch and Ngah Jabbor did b. I did not see anyone else. I was sitting on one of the logs of the bathing house (behind). There was a great uproar and confusion. I was not at all armed, I only had my lading"

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