In The Matter Of Armand De Souza, Editor Of The Ceylon Morning Leader

Present  : Wood Renton C.J., Pereira J., and De Sampayo A.J. 1914.

In the Matter of ARMAND DE SOUZA, Editor of the
Ceylon Morning Leader.

Contempt of Court-Publication in a newspaper-Magistrate open to suggestions from the police-Mind difficult of access to a conviction hostile to the interests of a European planter-Courts Ordinance, s. 51-Scandalizing the Judges-Is the law obsolete?

The defendant wrote in the Ceylon Morning Leader newspaper-

(a) That the Police Magistrate of Nuwara Eliya, having been himself at one stage in his career in the Ceylon Police Force, is "partial to the police view"; that he is often open to assistance and suggestions from police officers; and that they would not receive " this tremendous advantage" but for the fact that he improperly conducts part of his business in chambers. " Who is there to say what happens in his chambers? ". " We find no predisposition in our minds to discredit the reports we have received."

(b) " That he defers far too much to planters, and that his mind is very difficult of access to a conviction hostile to the interests of a European pl

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