The Noitgedacht Murder. 119 



starvation or bad food. She could not have died an accidental death and 

 the only verdict they could return was that she came to her death about 

 the 15th January, but by what means there was no evidence to show. 

 The jury returned a verdict in agreement with the summing up of the 

 Coroner. 



THE PRELIMINARY INQUIRY. 



At the preliminary inquiry, started on the 12th February, 1918, after 

 the evidence of Pariag was given, an adjournment was granted by the 

 Court until the 21st February when there also appeared in the dock 

 with the remaining five accused another East Indian woman named 

 Surjoo, the wife of Sewdin. Additional evidence was taken on the 7th 

 and 20th days of March respectively. It is interesting to state that on 

 the 21st March the following paragraph appeared in the "Daily Chronicle" 

 newspaper : — 



" News of a sensational nature, bearing it is said on the Molly 

 Schulz mystery has reached the city. It would appear that some time 

 ago a man about 21 years old answering to the name of Jess Peters, 

 was registered to serve Messrs. Bugle & Co., as a labourer on their 

 grants in the Rupununi, and along with others was despatched from the 

 city for the grants. It is stated that on the journey Peters was heard to 

 refer to the Molly Schulz's case and to express the fear of being implicated 

 in the matter. Throughout he seemed to have been disturbed in mind, 

 but it would seem that no great interest was attached to his sayings. 

 The men, who, as stated above, were on their way to the Rupununi, 

 camped at Plantain Island, Essequebo River. It is stated that Peters 

 was missed for a short time and to their surprise, it is reported, that he 

 was found to have committed suicide, his body having been found 

 suspended by a rope from a tree. The body was taken down and was 

 removed to Rockstone." 



In connection with the Molly Schulz's mystery it was mentioned 

 that the police were searching for a man named James, who, it was stated, 

 was in the interior. On the 21th March another paragraph appeared in 

 the news column, intimating that the arrest of James in the upper 

 reaches of the Mazaruni River was effected, and subsequently he with 

 another East Indiau named Buckreedee, the alleged obeahman, graced 

 the dock with the other accused. 



The Trial. 



The June Sessions of the Supreme Court in 1918 will be particularly 

 memorable in view of certain sensational happenings during the sitting. 

 Special arrangements were made in the Court for conducting the trial of 

 the accused, and on the morning of June the 6th, in the presence of His 

 Honour Sir Charles Major, Kt., Chief Justice of British Guiana, and a full 

 crowd of spectators, the Hon. Dr. J. J. Nunan, Attorney General, 



