Life of Ahmad — Page 546
DR. CLARK DRAGS HIM INTO COURT as 546 story as it stood highly improbable. There were inconsistencies between the version given in Amritsar as compared with that recorded by me, and I was not satisfied with his demeanour while giving evidence. I noticed, moreover, that the longer he remained under the care of the mission subordinates at Batala, the more profuse and detailed his evidence became. There was much in his first statement before me on the 12th which had not been revealed when he first made his admission to Dr. Clark, or when he was examined by the District Magistrate of Amritsar; and when examined again by me on August 13th, a mass of additional detail was added. The inferences were, either that he was being coached by some person or persons, or that he knew much more than he had so far revealed. I, therefore, asked the District Superintendent of Police to take charge of him and independently question him. Well, Mr. Le Marchand sent for him, and sent the Inspector of Police to Anarkali (Baring High School, Batala) to bring him, and the Inspector asked him various questions, but without result. The boy adhered to the statement he had made in court. So the Inspector said: "It is no use, the boy adheres to his statement, and he had better be sent back. " Mr. Le Marchand then decided he ought to record a statement himself. He had written two