A MUSSULMAN BROTHERHOOD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1777, 2 September 1884, Page 2

A MUSSULMAN BROTHERHOOD.

AH, a native of Calcutta, was charged at Marylebone, ■ Police . Court iwith stealing at various dates! sinceVDecember Ist,. 1883, from 51 ißegent's-Park road, three fur tippets, ■six feathers, one puff, six handkerchiefs, two petticoats, and other articles, value £8 4s 6d, the property of Almon Henry Harrington, an engineer. Almon H. Herringtori,>a white man, but apparently a foreigner, made the affirmation, and deposed that he was an engineer. In, June last year he went to the Strangers' Home, East Indian Dock road, and there met the prisoner and another man named Abdul Gayoum. The prisoner was. then, at prayer, and after he had finished they salaamed. In the course of conversation the prisoner said he had some goods .to sell, producing a quantity, of chicken work embroidery, but he had no money and no warm clothing. He (witness) gave him a small sum of money, afterwards purchased chicken work to the amount of £l6, and gave the prisoner. and.his friend £l6 each, He. ultimately received the men into his house, and agreed, to < send loilt £6O monthly to\ Calcutta to .;pify for the stock the prisoners had;' and'also paid £ls or £l6 a month for the support of All's family in Calcutta, which had been paid up to July 30th, Abdul left for his home in December last, and he (witness) then gave him and Ali the balance of £SOO which he had agreed to pay for the goods, and the two men divided .the money between them. Ali was subsequently entrusted with the keys of the boxes in which the goods were kept, but without any authority ' them. A week ago Ali left the house, and after a day or two the boxeswere forced open, and it was found tliat certain articles had been abstracted! He was an engineer by profession; he was also a Mussulman missionary and a physician, but possessed no diploma, as, he was a Mussulman doctor. He was a lodger at 51 Regent's Park road, where he occupied four rooms. Crossexamined—What does your family consist of 1 The witness (after some hesitation)— Well, my family consists of two ladies, two servants, and my brother, I bought the property of the man merely to befriend my brother Abdul. In what way is he your brother 1 ! In the faith. I go to the Strangers' Home from time to time to see if my brother needs assistance.' It is pure benevolence. Has Mrs JKilpin a husband I—Her husband died. She is my sister. In the same way as that man (the prisoner) is your brother 1— Yes, she' is my sister. She is. not your mistress, you, swear?—l swear to that. J have two names. My English name is Harrington, and that in the faith is Abdullah. .Where did you get that namo—were you haptjsed or—l—l object to tell, I would rather die in this Court than tell. my family affairs, which are matteis between me and my God, By. the,, Magistrate I got the £SQQ to purchase these goods from the treasury at my home at Surat. It is not my money, hut money to help poor people. I would not buy outside the faith. It is furnished by my' master. Who is your master ? —He lives at Surat, His name is Abdul Ali, He was here for three years and upwards. The £6O which I send monthly' to India through the Oriental" Bank appears in Abdul Cayoum's name. I do not know why he sent that money because I did not ask him, Musselmen never ask questions of anyone in the faith'.' "If a man asks for assistance I never, ask [questions,: I merely give and God keeps the account between us. If a man asked me for £IOO, or even/£SQQ ,1 Bhoujd give jt, : Elizabeth Ann ijlilpin corroborated: the evidence in ohief of Mr Herrin'gton. In cross--examination said—l am a lodger in jMr Herrington's house, and am his pisfcer iu the sight of God. I am a true Mussulman, My name in the faith is £ana.,_ I am a widow. I haye lived at''sl' Regent's "Park road, about jrighteen; months,: ■ and: occupy the second Wearea brotherhood. The room's 1 arepaid' for by the treasury of which you.have already ( heard. My (laughter is the other lady in the house, and as we-,all belong, to the same protherhnod our expenses are pajd out, of the same treasury. Sometimes as' much as £500.0 comes, over to the

house in' English gold. After some further; evi'deftce,;. Mt, De Rutzen re■manded thei prisoner- for a weok, intiraitingithat he. would;accept bail in 130 for his appearance.;