A husbandman executed a bond, and borrowed a hundred Pagodas of a Chetti. On the latter claiming repayment in due course, the debtor bade him call on the following day at his farm with the bond, when he would discharge the amount due, with interest. The creditor, suspecting no harm, did so accordingly, when the debtor receiving the bond from his hands, on pretence of looking at the date, tore it to tatters at once, and threw the bits into the fire. The creditor, thereupon, complained to Mariada Ramanna, who sent for the debtor and questioned him. The latter denied ever having borrowed money, executed a bond, or torn it as alleged. Dismissing the parties for the day, Mariada Ramanna sent for the Chetti and, Privately, asked him about the size of the bond alleged to have been destroyed. The latter, speaking the truth, said it was about a span long, upon which Mariada Ramanna advised him to say, when again questioned in the presence of the debtor on the following day that it was a cubit in length. The following day, accordingly, in the presence of the Defendant. Mariada Ramanna after cautioning the Plaintiff to speak the truth, asked him to specify the exact size of the bond. The Chetti having as agreed upon, declared that it was a cubit in length, the debtor, in an unguarded moment, blurted out that it was an astounding lie, for in fact, the bond was only a span in length, and added that a person who could swear such an audacious falsehood in a court of justice, was not entitled to be heard. This was exactly what Mariada Ramanna wished to elicit, and being satisfied that the Defendant's denials were grossly untrue, he directed him to return the amount borrowed forthwith, with interest and also awarded him fitting punishment, for the mischief and perjury committed by him, with a view to escape his just obligation.
