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2 into all circumstances which may throw any light upon ‘the matter, such
3 as \the habits, connections, circumstances, associates, mode of life, &¢., of
4 the deceased, and should suspicion attach to any individual, the proper
5 researches are made to fix the guilt upon him, or to clear him of the
6 crime. This, preliminary investigation, which is made with all prac-
7 ticable speed, hardly ever fails in eliciting the true facts of the case.
8 113. All suspected parties are then, if the circumstances warrant it,
9 taken up, and together with the necessary witnesses are assembled at the
10 Avnildar’s Cutcherry, where that Officer, with the assistance of another
11 Punchayet, makes a second full, but concise investigation, and then forwards
12 the whole of the proceedings, prisoners, evidence, &c., together with the
13 opinions of the Punchayets and himself, to the Superintendent for orders.
14 114, The charges are read to the prisoner or prisoners, both in the
15 Amildars and..Superintendents Courts, and it is optional with him to
16 plead “ guilty” or not “guilty.” A prisoner is permitted to call for any
17 witnesses or evidence, which he may think it desirable to bring forward
18 in support of his defence.
19 115. In cases of gang, torch, or any other description of robbery, the
20 nearest public servant inquires into the time, place and circumstances
21 attendant on the robbery; he examines at once any traces of the thieves
22 which remain; he finds out who saw them, what caste, or description of
23 men they were, what arms they used, (if they had any,) what kind of
24 property they stole, the value of it, as also any other particulars of which
25 the parties robbed or their neighbours may be aware; and when the
26 Punchayet is convened by the proper authority, he lays all these circum-
27 stances before them. .
28 116. If neither the Amildar nor Paishcar is in the immediate neigh-
29 bourhood when a robbery takes place, or if they are unable to attend, the
30 Shaikdar can carry on the investigations above set forth: but he must
31 report progress minutely to the Amildar. Under such circumstances the
32 Shaikdar can take up parties to whom suspicion attaches, and summon
33 witnesses, but he cannot retain any one in custody longer than twenty-four
34 hours, without the Amildar’s sanction.
35 117. In all serious cases, the Amildar, when he believes the charge
36 to be true, is obliged ta forward the suspected parties, together With his
37 preliminary investigation, to the Superintendent within seven days,
38 118. On the receipt of a serious case from the Amildar, the Superin-
39 tendent either at once commences the investigation of it himself, or refers