113
·
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
19
C.O.
Reference:
882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
3.
208
K. Mathes Appu, ten years' rigorous imprisonment;
A. K. Aron Appu, ten years' rigorous imprisonment;
J. Weerawickrama, rigorous imprisonment for life;
Isan de Silva Wijeratne, ten years' rigorous imprisonment;
S. Hinni Appu, ten years' rigorous imprisonment;
G. Dionis, rigorous imprisonment for life.
I approve the sentences of penal servitude as set forth in the schedule dated 2nd August, 1915, contained in the proceedings referred to.
I am, &c.,
The Honourable
The Brigadier-General
Commanding the Troops, Ceylon
Enclosure 5 in No. 55.
ROBERT CHALMERS,
Governor.
CASE NO. 2.
Tammitage Constantinu Perera, accused. is present in person. and explained to him. Accused pleads not guilty to all
29th July, 1915.
Charges read out the charges.
Crown Counsel calls :-
C. H. K. Scharanguizel, sworn.
Junior Medical Officer, Madampe. I held a post-mortem examination on the body of a man named Ana Suna Ahamadu. I held the examination on the 2nd
July. That was after about a month of the death. I could not say what death was due to. There was more blood in the left than on the right. Bones were all intact. The spleen and other organs were decomposed. If a man died of rupture of a blood- vessel I could find it. Body was exhumed from a grave, which was a short distance from where he lay dead. First time I saw the body was after the exhumation. Front of the abdomen was quite decomposed. I think it was blood from a ruptured blood-vessel. A blow would not. I think, have caused it. This may be serum.
Cross-examined: No questions.
R. F. La Brooy, sworn.
I am Junior Medical Officer. Kurunegala. I examined this accused on the 8th July. He did not show signs of consumption.
Cross-examined: No questions.
He may have had bronchitis.
To Court: I had nothing to do with this case till the 6th July. Accused had To consumption.
Case is postponed for to-morrow for further evidence.
Accused present as before.
Sadukka Tulla, sworn on the Koran.
30th July, 1915.
Age 15 years. I am a servant in a boutique of A. S. Muhammadu Isubu at Timbiriwewa. Our boutique was looted on the 4th of last month at about 11.0 or 11.30. I was in the boutique. There were also the old man and the other man, Sini Rauter, and deceased, A. S. Ahamadu. boutique.
Ahamadu was also employed in the On that day he was not ill. boutique Ahamadu was lying on a mat laying his head on a plank.
At the time the crowd came up to the from Horagasagare side. That is from the direction of Madampe. About two or Crowd came three hundred. I identified accused. I knew him before. He came walking with
I was in the When I came
the other men, leading them. He came with a club, leading them. I did not see a cart as there was a big crowd. When I saw the sleeping man was dealt a blow by the accused I ran away
Accused had a white covered stick. hack. I ran to the jungle behind the boutique. Ahamadu cried out.
Blow fell on the jungle about one or two hours, I came back when Tikira called me. back I found Ahamadu dead. He was lying dead near the doorway. There was a swelling near the ribs. I found all the things in the boutique taken away, and the papers torn and thrown away. He had a big belly and it was usual. Coroner held an inquiry on the 6th. I was full of sorrow at the time, and I told the Coroner that
I knew four or five persons. When the Coroner cane I knew the name but I did not mention it.
209
Cross-examined: This took place about 11.0 or 11.30. Accused struck the deceased. I saw, and after seeing ran away, I know Mananpulle. I saw him removing things from the boutique, after the looting. Mananpulle is here. There was a case against him. He was acquitted.
To Court: When I first saw the crowd come I was in the boutique. I saw them near the small bridge between our boutique and the road. They came running. There were about two or three hundred. They did not make a noise. I waked Ahamadu, but he did not get up. He did not hear the crowd coming. When the crowd came near the boutique I was sitting in the boutique looking at them. As soon as they came I stood up, and they dealt deceased a blow. I ran away, and there was somebody coming running after me. I saw one blow being dealt. I do not know if anybody else was striking Ahamadu. All of them had clubs. Boutique is full of boxes. Deceased was lying across the doorway. He was laying his head on the ledge. His body was in the verandah and his head was inside the boutique. (Witness demonstrated how the deceased was lying.) He was tying on the right side. Ahamadu was about 21 or 22. He does not take bhang or opium. He smokes cigars and drinks coffee. He used to sleep after meals always. We had our meals early this day. As he is the Kanakapulle he sleeps. I did not mention the accused's name to the Coroner through fear. I do not know what was the cause of the death. He was lying dead near the kitchen which adjoins the boutique.
.
To accused: The blow dealt would not kill the deceased." Long after the loot- ing, Arachchi, Korala, and Vel Durea came, more than three hours of the looting, and inquired into the matter. The Arachchi posted a watcher, and they went away. I did not mention the accused's name to the headmen and I was not asked, and because I was full of sorrow. There were watchers, two, taking care of the body till the Coroner came two days later. When the Coroner came I was in the junction without meals. We were not taken care of by the headmen, and we were not fed except giving a few curumbas (young coco-nuts).
Accused wants to call the korala and the Arachchi to give evidence on his
behalf.
Seni Rawuther, sworn on the Koran.
I live in Timbiriwewa in the boutique of Isubu Mudalali. Isubu was Kana- kapulle. Proprietor is Isubu, and the deceased was Kanakapulle. I was at the boutique when the looting took place. The crowd was a hundred strong. Deceased was dealt a blow. I don't know who dealt the blow. I ran into the jungle. While I was running into the jungle I was also dealt two blows. deceased's body. Till about 5.0 p.m. we were in the jungle. Before he was clubbed he was in good health.
I saw
Cross-examined: I came back to the boutique at about 5 p.m., after the headmen came there. They expressed their regret and placed two watchers and went away. No inquiry was held. They came three days after that. Yes, they came always. They inquired and took down our statements in writing.
I did
I saw
To Court: Crowd came to the boutique about 11.0. It was a big crowd. not know the accused before the looting. I did not see him in the crowd. Ahamadu being struck, but I did not see who struck him. I saw one blow struck and I ran away. He was sleeping when he was struck. Usually he sleeps after meals. He was sleeping before his breakfast. Meals were ready, and in the mean- time row took place, so that he had not taken his meals when he was killed. of us, Sadukku Tulla, myself, and deceased, used to sleep. Meals got late this day. I am perfectly certain that we had not taken our meals. We took our next meal at about 6.0 or 7.0 p.m.
To Crown Counsel: Many came into the boutique.
All
To Court: I cooked the meals. I got everything ready. I also attend to other work. I came to the boutique from the kitchen when the disturbance took place.
To accused: They carry on a large business. We deal in cloths and sundries.
We stock about 2,000 rupees' worth of cloths.
Sadakku Tulla recalled and reminded that he is on his former oath.
We have meals early in the morning, noon and evening. We had tea at about 8.0 a.m.
We had not our midday meal. We had fowl and rottie at 8.0. After the morning meal we had our next meal in the night.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.