Mr. Wright made his application that all persons save those material to the case be excluded from the court under rule 42 of the court rules, which allows the magistrate to exercise his discretion in the matter. The chief reason for his application, he explained, was the fear of intimidation of his witnesses, He had been instructed that would be difficult for him to. bring. certain witnesses whose evidence was very material to the case into court, if the public was to be admitted, Mr. Hartopp did not oppose the application, save that he asked that tone o two independent members of the Sikh community be allowed romals. He pointed out that the accused were Indians in a. strange country. Te understood that much. of the evidence being called by the Prosecution was from Sikhs and in the interests of justice, he asked that there be some check upon their testimony, He said that the presence of the two independent, persons he mentioned would act such a. check.
Worship, however, ruled that all persons save those material -t9 the ease be excluded and the court was cleared.
Guards were once more in evidcence at the front and rear gates of the Consulate grounds and' Indians. found it dificult to get in, The witnesses in a case of assault whi twas fo have been heard before the: murder ease but which was adjourn-fed had to be escorted into. the consular compound by their legal practitioner.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.