SALAMAN’S TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1927, Page 1

SALAMAN’S TRIAL

[by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, April 4. To-day tlie Indian herbalist, Abraham Alohamed Sahunan, was charged with obtaining £3 15s from David John O'Carrol and Charles Lawrence Packman bv falsely representing that he was a person capable of diagnosing and curing ailments and skilled in the treatment ol disease, lie pleaded not guilty. The case iollowed a police raid on his place. Constable Packman said lie had also called at Salaman’s. A woman was leaving, and he saw her pay over somemoney to Salaman, who said to her:— “Eat plenty of curry in Lot weather, a.s it is cooling.” ‘ His consulting room looked something like a dispensary,” said the constable. “He weighed me and then got a magnifying glass and looked at my eves. He asked: “What doctor has been messing about with yout” j

said: “L haven’t seen a doctor.” IJe asked to have a looked at the call of my leg:. He kneeled on the lloor and examined both legs. Sahunan then told him that he was suffering from a serious disease witness said; but he did not examine him further. He gave him medicine and pills and plaster. “1 asked: “How much will that be doctor y” He said : “18s fid please.” I gave him £1 and lie gave me Is 3d change. Sahunan then told him not to cat fruit or fish. He had been examined afterwards by two doctors, and had had a blood test taken. AVhen lie called a second time he saw an aged woman in the waiting room, fjalaman came out with two other women, and said: “Next please!” The woman went in. Sahunan examined him again, witness said, and told him he wanted some more medicine. He gave witness three bottles of medicine, several boxes of pifis and capsules and plaster and charged him 25s for them. On his third visit, Sahunan told him that Hie germs were all gone, and that ho wouldn’t charge him anything.

Constable O’Carroll stated that lie called at Salaman's shop in Jvhyber Pass road on December 3rd and greeted him with “Good morning, doctor,” saying he wasn’t feeimg too good. After putting witness on the scales, Salaman placed a stethoscope at the base of the constable’s throat and informed him that his circulation was very bad, and that “You’ve left iL too long. Very soon you’ll lose the power of your legs.” Salaman gave him a bottle of medicine, live bottles of pills and put a plaster on his back. He paid IDs for the treatment and went to the detective office, where a sergeant removed the plaster, and O’Carroll was examined by two doctors. AVituess detailed other visits, on the second of which Sahunan decided to change the medicine, but said nothing about the plaster. On December 23, Sahunan put a magnifying glass on O’CarroU’s eyes and said: “By jove, very bad. You’ve got ulcers.” AA’itness remarked, “1 don’t see the ulcers. AAMiere are they!'” to which Sahunan replied: “They’re on your stomach.” For the third time witness left with five boxes of pills, and was given some fatherly advice for Christmas, being told to cut out corned beef, carrots, pumpkins and intoxicating liquors.

Dr Alurray. who examined both Constables O'Carroll and Packman, said Limb lii‘ had found them in good health. There was no evidence of disease. He diil mil think the treatment was necessary, nor the medicine suitable tor the complaints from which the Constables were alleged to have been suffering He evidently didn't know much about it, wa- the doctor’s opinion of Salamaii's method of diagnosis. Other expert medical evidence was given to show that both constables were in good health, and were free from disease or ailments which the accused had said they were suffering from.

Counsel for accused said that the licence was that the accused was carryng on the business of a herbalist, ami lid not profess to lie a doctor or a ■liemisi. He did not allow himselt to io called doctor. AYitnesses would be •ailed who had been treated by Salaikiii and would show that he had ellert•d marvellous cures in case's given up iy doctors. Accused really believed he ins doing Lis patients good ami did lot consequently defraud them.

Salaman, in evidence, denied making lie diagnosis related by the constables. Io denied that he said Packman had •enerea! disease. Accused said hi' had onio knowledge of chemistry anil -oulil make aniline dyes and perfumes illicit could not he made by anyone ■lse in New Zealand. The ease was adjourned till to-mor-