( 1 ) THE two appellants along with another were put up for trial before the Sessions Judge of Krishna on several counts in connection with an occurrence that took place at about 7 A. M. on the 15th of July, 1954. The 1st appellant was found guilty of having inflicted a fatal wound on one Moses, an offence punishable under section 302, Indian Penal Code and given a life sentence. Accused 2 was convicted under section 323 and sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment. The third accused was acquitted. The accused as well as the members of the prosecution party are Harijan christians living in Baptist Palem, Bezwada.

( 2 ) THE 1st accused is the father of the wnd accused and the elder brother of the 3rd accused. P. W. 3 is the father of the deceased, P. Ws. 1, 2, 4, and 5, P. Ws. 2 and 4 being the daughters. P. W. 1 is an employee in the Bezwada Railway Station. He developed illicit intimacy with P. W. 7, the wife of the 3rd accused, two years prior to the occurrence. Seven months before the offence, he took away P. W. 7 from her house and began to live at Inchpet one mile away from Baptist Palem. Beyond reporting the matter to the authorities concerned, the thi