Short Story: Mistaken Identity

A.F. DAWOOD

Manatunge Maduwalla has been languishing in the death row of the Welikada prison for the last three years. He is indicted with the murder of a gem merchant. He does not accept the sentence and feels that the society has done a great injustice to him.

He was a thug who had terrorised the Maradana, Pettah area. He had been in a gang involved in extortion, kidnapping and robbery. Now he is ruminating his fate.

The man who ruled the metropolis under his thumb and whose name invocated fear among the people, is now helpless, repenting and counting his days.

"What's your charge?" His cellmate asked. "It's true I'm a thug; I was involved in a gang but I didn't kill anyone. I only provided the murder weapon. But the court proved I am the murderer."

"So you're going to die for a murder you didn't commit?" Questioned Regrob.

"Yah, I wasn't in the scene of the crime. That's the biggest joke." "Were your finger prints in the murder weapon?" "Yes, they said my finger prints were in the knife. But what about the finger prints of the man who used the knife?"

"Who is the man? You know him?"

"What're you talking, Regrob? Will I not know the names of those in my gang?"

"So Maney, you know the man? Did you tell the court?" "There lies the secret. There's something...........".

The bell rang for breakfast. All the prisoners took their plates and mugs and marched to the dining hall, where they formed a queue.

There was an uproarious noise and amidst the din numbers were called. Every prisoner was dished out a quantity of boiled manioc, scraped coconut, a plantain and a mug of plain tea.

Prisoners in death row are not sent out. A prison guard came to Manatunge's cell and pushed two plates of breakfast through the aperture of the iron gate of the cell. Manatunge refused to eat; Regrob ate with much relish.

"Why no eat breakfast, cheer your self, Manatunge."

"Willy, what about a cigarette for me?" Manatunga asked the prison guard whose name was Wilbert.

Wilbert took out two cigarettes from his pocket, looked around and offered them to Manatunga.

"Ah! Manatunga, how many days more?"

"About a month. I think they're going to implement death penalty after justice is murder." But the President has to sign the death warrant" remarked the prison guard and walked away.

"He has already signed and the death penalty is in force now." Manatunge replied and puffed away his cigarettes" Regrob finished his breakfast.

"Here Maney, eat your breakfast, make yourself happy in your remaining days."

"Regrob, why should I die for a murder I didn't do. That keeps me worrying."

"I don't care a bit about my life. I have enjoyed my life to the fullest."

"From where did you operate?"

"In down South Galle, Ambalangoda, Matara. I have burgled banks; I have raped a number of women; immediately after the crime, I go underground. I played 'hide and seek' with the police for about six years."

"So why you in the death row now?" "Maney, I earned ten years for all the crimes I was here before but was released in the sixth year for good behaviour. That was three months ago. So when I went out, I killed Tudawe who gave the tip to the police for my arrest."

"Tudawe?" Manatunge pondered.

"Tudawe, bald headed and left eye missing with a deep sabre cut on his left check?"

"Yes, that's right; he was a hard core criminal; how do you know him?"

"His brother was in our gang; his name Kartelis.

It's to Kartelis I gave the murder weapon."

"So Kartelis is the murderer?" "I think he is the one, if he has not given the weapon to someone else in the gang."

"You think Kartelis' finger prints was not in the murder weapon?"

"Regrob, you're talking bullshit. He knew some big shots. Don't you think you can wipe off finger prints with money? There's something secret there."

"How did you become a gangster?"

"It's a long story. I haven't gone to school beyond grade five. My father was a toddy vendor. He had a large number of customers. A rival gang told him to stop his business from which father got a good income to support his family.

We were leading a very good life. One night I got up to see our house in flame. I escaped death from the rear door but I lost my parents. Later my parents' charred bodies were recovered."

"My Gosh! a wicked murder of an innocent family." "That's why I told you, Regrob the society has done a great injustice to us. So how should I live? I joined Gineris mudalali's gang; that was fifteen years ago. There I learnt extortion, kidnapping and robbery."

"Have you raped women?" Definitely no. I have not raped and not killed. But I have been an accomplice in gang robbery, mostly I got money by extortion from shop keepers."

Oneday Manatunge Maduwalle was taken to the visiting hall to meet a visitor, escorted by police. He was nonplussed to see the visitor. He was Kartelis. "What made you come here?"

"I have brought you good news, Manatunge."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you're not the killer; but you know things went wrong some where."

"I gave the weapon to you; You're the killer?" questioned Manatunge.

"I am not the killer; I gave it to my brother Tudawe."

"He died three months ago." Kartelis was surprised to hear that.

"How do you know that?"

"Tudawe's killer is in my cell, sentenced to death." Manatunge explained.

"I was in Bogambara prison for three years for being an accomplice in the murder of the gem merchant.

I was released three months ago." Manatunge stared into the face of Kartelis; they remained speechless for sometime. Kartelis broke the ice.

"But why should you be hanged when you have not killed?" "It's my destiny, Kartelis. Now I am prepared to die, only one more day.

So what's the good news you have brought?"

"Tudawe made a confession to the police that he was the killer of the gem merchant; his statement was recorded in the police entry."

"It's surprising. What made him do so?"

"In the last part of his life, Tudawe completely turned over a new leaf. He attended Dhamma sermons in temples and became a recluse. That's why he gave a tip to the police about your cell mate, a notorious murderer. So cheer up buddy. "Kartelis consoled.

"I have nothing to worry; there's no one to look after me; tomorrow is my doom's day." "Nothing to worry, Manatunge."

"Tomorrow is my last day, you mean to say I'll escape the gallows?" "Why not? The police has already communicated to the Criminal Investigation Department. The criminal record shows there's a case of mistaken identity in the finger prints."

"All your talk is bullshit for me. Anyway I thank you for coming to see me before I die."

That night after dinner Manatunge and Regrob puffed cigarettes together for the last time.

"Maney, I'll miss your company tomorrow night."

"May be I am paying for a killing done in my previous life."

The following morning dawned as usual. The prison officers were busy with the case of Manatunge. He was given a nice breakfast and treated to choicest wine and cigarettes. He was scheduled to be hanged at ten in the morning. A Buddhist monk who arrived at Manatunge's cell preached him the last sermon.

He was now prepared to meet with his destiny. He was ruminating his fate, seated on a stool and his hands cupped against his chin. The superintendent of prisons appeared at his cell and called. "Manatunge, Manatunge."

The prisoner was completely lost in thought. "Manatunge, Manatunge," the prison superintendent lost in thought. "Manatunge, Manatunge", the prison superintendent repeated. The prisoner came back to his consciousness. "Yes, sir." He stood up from the stool "Are you ready?" "Yes, sir, I'm ready to face the gallows."

"Manatunge, you will not...." "Why sir?"

"You're released today. It's a case of mistaken identity."