CO882-10 — Page 32

51

34

Seyadu Omer, affd.

On the 1st June I was in Main Street. I saw the three accused coming in a motor-car. I saw a shop being broken. It was after they arrived. It was after We were at the junction they came that trouble began. The accused shot at us. I heard them saying "Break the Moormen's mosque, break the shop, beat them all.

The first and third accused I heard it well. The firing began at the same time. shot. The second was standing.by.

At

I did not

The Moors also threw stones. Cross-examined: I trade in Main Street. the inquiry before Mr. Allnutt I was not asked about the second accused. see second accused firing. I pointed out at Maradana the first and third. Seku Abdul Rahiman, affd.

It

There was firing by the

I was in Main Street when this row occurred. I saw Mohideen's shop being broken. I saw the first and second accused, with others, coming in a motor-car. was after the car came that Mohideen's shop was looted. first and second accused on the Moors at the junction.

Cross-examined: The Moors did not advance from the junction. At the same time as the looting there was firing. There was firing because they were unable to The mob were asked to break the attack the mosque as we were blocking the way. mosque. The police sergeant, one of the last witnesses, must have seen the looting. (Court adjourned for lunch.)

First accused, D. E. H. Pedris, affd.

I

25. I am a merchant in the Pettah. My father has a shop. I have no share in the shop. I was educated in St. Thomas's College for six years. I remember the 1st June. At 9.15 I went to the shop. I go by car usually. In consequence of a message on the telephone I went up with the other two accused, R. S. Fernando and M. J. Fernando, manager, to the shop. R. S. Fernando is my brother-in-law. noticed, in the way, a commotion near the Municipal Office, Sinhalese looting a boutique. At the Second Cross Street junction Moors were collected. We got down at our shop. N. S. Fernando's shop was closed when we went. I attended to my The others that came with me business. There was not commotion at that time. must have gone to their business in other places. Mr. Wallace was there to see me about the purchase of some land. While I transacted business with him the manager told me that the Moors were pelting stones, and that the windows were not safe, and I ordered the shutters to be put down to protect the shop from the trouble outside. I got to the verandah. I saw Sinhalese attacking Moors and Moors attacking Sinhalese They were attacking each other with stones and clubs. The Moors advanced, and my assistants in the shop got inside the shop. I ordered the Moors to get away My car was there facing Fort. Some stones fell on the shutters. They were about twelve yards from my shop. The Sinhalese were on the First Cross Street. They all ran away, I got near the car and fired three shots into the air with the object of frightening the Moors away. About three or four shots I fired below on the ground. All Moors then ran away. As I fired above a bottle struck my hand and the red ink stained my coat. (Coat produced.) So I shot below. I fired because they said That rascal's shop must be broken," and as they were determined to harm me. When they went I closed the shop. I spoke to Lieutenant. French, of the Town Guard. I got permission for my men to pass, as the road was being closed. The third accused came, and was allowed to pass by the Town Guard. I am a member I went of the Town Guard. I was asked to fall in, and I left at once in a taxi-cab. to the barracks, and I was on duty till 6 o'clock that day. Mounted policemen came and assisted me in Main Street. The next day I rendered service at Dematagoda junction and other places.

I did not instigate the Sinhalese to loot Mohideen's shop or any Moorish houtique or mosque or assault the Moors. There is a Moorish shop adjoining mine, and three in front. None of these shops were looted. I had no trade rivalry with these Moormen. Some weapons were discovered at my house belonging to my father, brother-in-law, and myself. My father is a plumbago merchant.

I go out with the revolvers, taking money with me. (Guns, revolvers, pistols, etc., pro- duced.) The revolvers are mine. I actively helped the authorities for the days following. The second accused is my brother-in-law. He did not incite the crowd to loot any shops, the third accused was not there when I fired, nor was the second. Cross-examined: The second accused was arrested by the Town Guard near my I did not see any of the witnesses there. There were no police officers on the I heard about Mohideen's shop being looted afterwards. I did not notice

shop

spot

the shop being looted. I do not know how it came to be looted. I do not know how these injured witnesses came by their injuries. I had the pistol when I came in the car, as I knew there was going to be trouble. The other two accused also knew there would be trouble. On other days I did not carry the pistol.

D. John, affd.

Salesman in Pedris's shop. On the 1st June there was trouble in Main Street, at about 10 or 10.30. I got a telephone message sent to the first accused. message was that there was an intention of the coast Moormen causing trouble. The The Moors had assembled at the junction. Sinhalese had assembled at the First Cross Street, and I inferred there would be trouble.

Cross-examined: I sent the message at about 7.30. assembled at that time.

The crowd also had

And no trouble occurred till about 10.30. I know nothing about Mohideen's shop being looted. Pedris came at about 9.30.

F. G. Perera, sworn.

53. Roman Catholic. Employed under Samarakone Bros. as bookkeeper. It may be the last witness who sent a message to Pedris that coast Moors were coming to attack Pedris's shop, through my office.

I sent that message.

S. Wallace, sworn.

Broker. Canvasser for auctioneers.

On the 31st May I went with Pedris out of the town to inspect a land. He wanted me to meet him in the following morning at his shop. I went to the shop about 9 o'clock. I saw crowds from the Municipal Building till the Second Cross Street. Sinhalese were in the First Cross Street. They were armed. Moors also were armed. There was stone-throwing from both ends. I went to the shop. Pedris was not at his shop. About half-an-hour afterwards he came.

As there was disturbance we did not discuss our business. Shutters were put down, and we went out to the pavement. Pedris went to the car. was coming forward. He fired upwards. He shot again down. Then all the The crowd people ran away. Afterwards, mounted police came.

Cross-examined: I ought to be surprised to hear that I was not cited as one of Pedris was talking to them. the first witnesses by Pedris. Before firing there were no officers there. I did not notice Mohideen's shop being looted.

M. J. Fernando,“affd.

Manager, Pedris's shop. On the 1st June I was told there was trouble in Pettah. These three accused and R. S. Fernando and myself arrived at the shop a little after 9. There was a gentleman in the shop; who wanted to see Pedris. They had an interview. I told Pedris that stones were being thrown, and to have the glasses shut. Then they were shut. Then Pedris came and went near the car. He Two gentlemen came on horseback and sent the crowd away. There were Inspectors also. The first accused did not incite people to loot Moor- men's boutiques, The second accused did not shoot anybody. He did not incite

shot into the air.

people to loot or destroy.

Cross-examined: I was with Pedris the whole time.

I ought to be surprised

I do not know

to hear that I was not cited as one of the witnesses first by Pedris. anything about Mohideen's shop being looted. The second accused was there at 11 or 11.30. He did not incite.

S. H. Dyer, sworn.

Captain of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. The first accused is in the mounted section of the Town Guard. He was in the ranks from 7 to 8 on the 1st June. saw him later in the afternoon after half-past 1. He fell in. He showed his hand

I

There was no cut in

stained with red ink. He was on duty the following days. the hand. He did not mention anything about the trouble in the morning. He was in uniform.

T. Muttukumaraswamy, affd.

Corporal, mounted section of Town Guard. The first accused is guardsman under me. Had drill from 7 to 8 on 1st June. He fell in at the barracks. showed a red stain in his hand.

He

not tell me anything about firing.

R 2

He told me he was thrown at in Pettah. He did

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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