A human experience denied to 'Coolie Mary'

THE Native High Court archives hold a transcript that details the trial of Gundwane Sikakana for the murder of “Coolie Mary” in 1914.

- SELVAN NAIDOO

The court transcript describes harrowing details of the murder of 45-year-old Jugrajee, commonly known as “Coolie Mary”.

“I knew the Indian woman named Mary, and bought eggs and vegetables from her ...”

Witness testimony by those involved with the case retold their account of what transpired to “Coolie Mary”.

The first person to find a murdered Jugrajee was a schoolboy: “I am the son of William Henry Brown, a platelayer on the South African Railways, living in a cottage, 176 on the town lands, Ladysmith. I remember Tuesday, the 5th August 1913. On that afternoon, when coming back from school, I saw a coolie woman lying dead. I recognised her.

“She was Coolie Mary. Mary is the name we use for Indian women who sell vegetables. She used to bring vegetables to our cottage ... When I saw her lying, she was lying under the trees ... I saw a basket and a stone lying by her body.”

Her husband’s testimony revealed that Jugrajee was wearing a pair of bangles, a broach, a pair of leg ornaments and a nose ornament.

“Those are the articles of jewellery she was wearing. During the day, I received a report that she had gone missing; I went to look for my wife; I went to my brother's house. I came across my wife the next morning, and I had been to the police. The accused used to live near me; he used to come occasionally and buy bread from my wife, he used to pay cash, but afterwards he bought for credit ...”

Witness testimony revealed that Jugrajee was murdered by Gundwane Sikakana.