108
a man has made up his mind to a crime, and has
not the pluck to do it, he takes the drug to give
him Dutch courage. I know of no connection
with unpremeditated crimes of violence. I know
the case of a policeman, a short time ago, in
Benares, who took bhang before going out to shoot
the seducer of his wife. This was mentioned in
the District Superintendent's report of the case,
that the man had taken bhang to give him courage.
I have heard of one or two other cases. I cannot
speak positively to them. I heard of a sepoy in
Bareilly, of a similar character, some years ago ; but
that was not a case reported to me. In the case
of the policeman, I know of nothing special in
bhang. I suppose the effect of liquor would have
been the same. I do not know why bhang was
chosen.
I know of no case of running amok in the
sense of motiveless crime due to hemp.
Question 55.—I do not know a case of hemp
drugs being used to stupefy victims of intended
crime. Dhatura is given in this part of the coun-
try in sweetmeats or food. I have not heard of
majum being so used.
Question 45.—I think very few men in the
police force use these drugs. We do not in the
first place put in men who are habitual users.
Then the two years' probation makes it possible to
turn men out whose habits of this kind are dis-
covered. Then they know that illness being shown
to be due to that disqualifies for pension. Thus
few men in the force use the drugs, I have never
heard any complaint of breach of discipline or bad
behaviour connected with the use of these drugs.
Reports, even necessitating dismissal, do not come
necessarily to me; but appeal lies to me. Most
such cases do come to me thus. Punishments are
reported to me, but not by name, in any case in
which the Magistrate's order is final. The monthly
statements do not show offences or their causes ;
but only the number of punishments of different
kinds. My opinion is that the habitual use unfits
a man for being a policeman. I do not think that
the moderate use does harm or can be discovered.
But the habitual consumer whom we reject is
the man whose habits we have discovered from the
effects. On the other hand, if by any means I
discovered that a man was a habitual user of the
drug, even in moderation, I should not accept him,
because the habit might grow on him, just as I
should decline to take a man who had the moderate
liquor habit or the moderate opium habit, if I
knew it. I have more fear of the moderate
habit developing into the excessive in the use of
stimulants in the native than in the European.
My opinion in regard to the European is based of
my knowledge of the habits of the race. I cannot
say what my opinion in regard to the natives is,
for I have not extensive experience of the moderate
consumers. I have only one case of a policeman
breaking down through these drugs, and even that
case was regarded by the Medical Board as a doubt-
ful one. I am afraid of men breaking down on my
hands, so I am cautious. I think few policemen
are habitual opium eaters, though some take it
when they go to malarious districts. I think the
same about liquor ; consumers in the force are few.
There is no order in any rule, etc., against employ-
ing men who take liquor, opium, or drugs. It is
my own idea. I know also that officers look out
for this.
65. Evidence of MR. E. BERRILL , Deputy Inspector General of Police, North-Western
Provinces and Oudh, Allahabad.
51. A fairly large proportion of the lower class
of Hindu bad characters are moderate consumers
of the drugs, but such consumption has no connec-
tion with crime.
52. A very small proportion of the lower class
of Hindu bad characters are excessive consumers,
but as farras my experience goes such consumption
has no connection with crime.
53. Excessive indulgence in ganja has been
known to incite to unpremeditated violent crime.
Unfortunately I am not able to recall any parti-
cular case.
54. Not to the best of my knowledge. Occa-
sionally liquor is resorted to for the purpose, but
I have not heard of any of the drugs being used.
55, Such cases are very rare. Dhatura seed is
more generally used. These drugs will not cause
complete stupefaction.
66. Evidence of CAPTAIN T. J. RYVES , Deputy Inspector General, Government
Railway Police, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Allahabad,
51 and 52. I know of none among railway
thieves and bad characters.
53. I have heard of no cases on the railway line.
54. Not on the railway.
55. In one case only I have known the woman
who had been robbed had been given charas and
opium. (This was the opinion of the Chemical
Examiner to whom the vomit was sent.) The
drugs were administered in sweetmeats. The per-
petrator of the offence was another woman, not an
habitual criminal.
67. Evidence of MR. R. J. M. POCOCK , District Superintendent of Police ,
Muzaffarnagar.
51. No connection whatever with crime in gene-
ral, though confirmed gamblers are given to using
intoxicants.
52 As above.
53. Not that I know of.
54. Not that I know of.
55. (b) Yes.