FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 145
The result of my enquiry is as follows:—
Previous history of the case (general and family).—Sheikh Hussain, Musalman, of
the Sheikh sect, lived with a brother at Bangalore from his twelfth year. Enlisted in 1879
as a sepoy, served in Afghanistan, obtained a medal for that service, and took his dis-
charge (voluntarily) in 1883. By the order of discharge he was then about 24 years of
age. Subsequently he married the sister of a Jagirdar, who bore him four children, one of
whom has died by an accident; the rest are alive and well. I have seen two of them,
and they seem to be in perfect health. Sheikh Hussain's brother, father, and mother are
all dead, so that unfortunately there is no possibility of ascertaining his early habits. Nor
is it practicable to find out what sort of habits he formed during his three or four years'
service as a sepoy.
According to his wife and her brother, Sheikh Hussain was quiet and well-behaved;
not known to be addicted to smoking ganja; at times drank toddy, which, however,
did not make him noisy and quarrelsome; he was never known to go out of his mind, or
be strange in his manner until about a month before he went to Anantapur (that is, 1890,
when he killed the man). Just before going to Anantapur his conduct became queer;
he gave away his things to strangers (goshais); did not sleep well; and finally went off
to Anantapur (with the Head Assistant Collector) without change of clothes, &c.
The duffadar and the acting attender of this office both speak to Sheikh Hussain be-
ing addicted to smoking ganja. The former states that he only knew of this habit from
the time Sheikh Hussain became peon of this office, but fancied that he had taken it pre-
viously.
The same witness says that for a month or so before the journey to Anantapur, Sheikh
Hussain took ganja very heavily indeed, and the attender's evidence, while not going quite
so far, shows that at Anantapur Sheikh Hussain seemed to live on ganja and raw Bengal
gram rather than on proper meals. The acting attender also adds that Sheikh Hussain
had contracted the habit of taking ganja, a year or so before he became peon, from goshais
(the people to whom he gave away things according to his wife and the duffadar) and from a
dhobie of Penukonda. The duffadar remembers that four months or so before Sheikh
Hussain went to Anantapur, he (Sheikh Hussain) in a fit of (perhaps) mental alienation
gave away vessels, etc., to goshais. The Irrigation Overseer (now pensioned), with whom
Sheikh Hussain worked for about a year as lascar, states that he did not observe Sheikh Hus-
sain taking ganja at any time while they were together. Sheikh Hussain seems to have
been with the Overseer most of the day (up to 6 or 7 P.M.), and to have gone away to his
own lodgings in the evening.
5. Moorthy Veeraswami.—No information obtainable.
6. Madula Sooryanarain.—No evidence of ganja beyond the statement of the late
Civil Surgeon, Coconada. The man is now well and denies ever having used ganja. He
and his relatives attribute the insanity to Beri-Beri.
[Note.—The papers show that no one can explain how Dr. Patch (late Civil Surgeon
Coconada) came to enter the words "said to be addicted to ganja smoking." The evi-
dence recorded by the Magistrate is clear that the man never took ganja. The Acting
Civil Surgeon also says: "The man appeared before me; and when examined denied
smoking ganja or eating opium. He attributed the lunacy he suffered from to the serious
illness (evidently Beri-Beri from his description) in Burma. His cousin, who accompanied
him, confirmed his statement."]
7. Pappa.—Godaveri Magistrate reports that there is no evidence of ganja beyond
the cause of insanity entered by the Civil Surgeon, Coconada, who stated that he smoked
ganja and drank bhang. The Jail warders, however, do not know on what authority the
statement was made.
[Note.—The following letter (No. 124, dated Coconada, 29th March 1894) from the
Deputy Magistrate, to the District Magistrate, Godaveri, gives full details of this case.]
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