P E BILLINGHURST Vs. DBMEEK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this case it appears that on the 23 of August 1920 a complalnt was lodged before the Chief Presidency Magistrate, charging five persons with the commission of offenses punishable under Secs.420 and 120B of the Indian Penal code.

(2.) The prosecution was at the instance of the Government of India and the five accused were Waite and Stoddart, two officers working under the Munitions Board, Calcutta, and Billinghurst, Blackburn and Michael, members of a Calcutta firm known as Spalding and Co.

(3.) In the course of the investigation preceding the lodging of complaint, the premises of Messrs, Spalding and co. had been searched on the 23 December 1919, and at various times between that date and the 23 of August 1920, Billinghurst, Blackburn and Michael proceeded, Billinghurst to Burma, Blackburn and Michael to England.