EMPEROR Vs. PANCHU DAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Panchu Das and Goberdhone Singh were convicted by the majority of the jury, 7 to 2, at a trial at the Criminal Sessions presided over by Chaudhuri, J., of offences under Sections 302, 120B and 380, Indian Penal Code.

(2.) The indictment contained 7 counts and included charges of murdering: one Dakho Bewa, a woman of the town, on the 10th December 1914, conspiring to rob her, theft of property from her house and abetment of the offenses of murder and theft.

(3.) The learned Judge admitted certain evidence which was objected to by learned Counsel representing the accused persons but intimated that, as the questions were not severed by any direst Indian authority, he would, if necessary, reserve them for the consideration of the Court. This reference accordingly was made by the learned Judge. The case for the prosecution is set out by the learned Judge in the reference and need not be repeated in detail by me.