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1. The accused in this case was charged with having murdered his wife at Gersappa in the Kanara District either on March 31, 1927, or during the early morning of -April 1. It is common ground that his wife was sleeping with him in the verandah of the accused's house, and that next day her body was found in the river adjoining the accused's house with a wound upon the throat, which is described as a gaping flesh wound four inches long, and one inch wide and about half an inch deep in the lower half of the wound, while superficial in the upper half. The accused went and gave information in the morning about his wife being missing to two police-officers in the village. But although they then went and saw the body, it was not actually taken out till after 4 p. m. that same day, because they waited until the police patil of a neighbouring village came. After the Panchnama had been drawn up, the body was sent to Honavar in order that the post-mortem examination might be made. That was made between 3 and 5 P.M. next day. The Medical Officer was of opinion that death was not due to drowning, but he could not give a definite opinion as to the cause of death owing to decomposition of the corpse. The Sub-Inspector arrived on the evening of the 2nd, and commenced his investigation on the 3rd with a panch. He found blood marks on the river bank which were traced up a cattle path to the accused's house. There blood marks were found on the entrance posts of the compound and inside the house. A blood-stained koita was also found and attached. After further investigation the accused was arrested on April 5. He has been acquitted by the Sessions Judge, who agrees with the unanimous opinion of the four assessors. The Local Government appeal from this acquittal.