JUDGMENT

Walsh, J. - In this case one Lakhan Chamar has been convicted under S. 302, Indian Penal Code, and sentenced to death and has appealed against that conviction. With him was convicted one Mathura Ojha of an offence under S. 325, Indian Penal Code, and sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment, and one Narain Koeri of an offence under S. 201, Indian Penal Code, and also sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment. Two other persons along with these three, namely, Bandhu Chamar and Kolai Chauar have been acquitted. Owing to a somewhat narrow view which the learned Judge has taken of the numerous confessions in this case, these two must consider themselves somewhat fortunate to have escaped. The murder was a most cold-blooded and brutal one of the village patwari and the usual difficulty was experienced in getting direct evidence of guilt in a small village where an unpopular person has been got rid of, and the community probably think that a maximum of one culprit, who will probably be hung, is sufficient to answer the death of one victim. There is no doubt that there was ample motive and that the patwari was living, like the Czar of Russia used to do, on a sort of volcano. Hi