In H.M. Supreme Court on Monday the Full Court of Appeal (Judge Sir Skinner Turner, Sir. H.. C. [Gollan and Judge Grain) heard the petition of Hasura Singh for leave to appeal against the verdict and sentence of two years' imprisonment nae Jury, siting tu the 'Supreme upon yy Judge Grain Court, for causing grievous bodily harm' to Jagat Singh in the Sikh Gurdwara during -the recent factional troubles between. Malwa and Majha Sikhs—Mr. Lipson Ward represented the Crown, 'Hasura Singh was not legally represented. In his petition he alleged that he was innocent of.the charge Jand that' the case was fabric eated against him by fellow Sikhs from motives of spite. He urged that the "Court should visit the Gurdwara and question each witness separately as to where the injured man lay after being struck Also that each witness be separatel questioned in the Gurdwara as where he, Hasura Singh, was standling at the time the blow was struc Jwhere the two parties, Malwa and Majha were standing and whet description of stick, was used to strike the blow. he petition alleged that only two witnesses testified to seeing the blow struck and that these Iwere men of bad character and evil habits of life, whereas six men of good character testified in witness's behalf. The petition added that] Hasura Singh weighed only 122 Ibs, and was therefore not strong enough to take part in any fighting.
The Jury's Function Sir Skinner Turner pointed out to appellant that he had been tried by the best methods known to British tice, and he had had the benefit fof a jury of Rritish subjects. These Jha found him guilty.
Hasura Singh: A Judge and Jury late not. infallible. How can they tell, sitting in a Court and listening to fabricated evidence, whether Tam innocent or guilty?
Sir Skinner: You do not say that there was anything Wrong with the trial? "The trial was conducted proerly in every way?
Masura Singh: T a an illiterate not, know the ways Team innocent. This. eave fabricated against_me, Tan.
made to suffer for the mischief of other Sikhs Sir Skinner:—It_is suggested] that you might like to say. some-about the sentence that -was T yas treated unjustly, so I ask you to do justice.
Mr. Lipson Ward said that ther was little for him ta say. The trial occupied two days and the accused was very ably defended by Mr, Wing. The defence was that the accused was not there when the blow was struck, but he was in some other part of the Gurdwara. however, he was identified by two witnesses who said that they saw him strike the complainant with a heavy iron-bound stick. Another twitness, who did not actually sce the blow struck, said he saw the injured man on the ground and the accused standing "by. The jury were very merciful in finding the prisoner guilty only of inflicting grievous bodily harm when they had been asked to convict him of Jattempted murder, The injured man's skull was very badly. fractured. As regards the prison. jer's physical condition, he had ample opportunity to call evidence on this at the trial, but this was the first time it had been brought
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.