The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05 00:00:00

A MIISSULMAN BROTHERHOOD.

In London, on Tuesday, at the Marylebone Police
court, Karban Ali, a native of Calcutta, was charged
with stealing at various dates since December 1,
1883, from 51, Regent's-park-road, three fur tippets,
six feathers, one puff, six handkerchiefs, two petti-
coats, and other articles, value ..E8 4s. 6d., the
property of Almon Henry Herrington, an engineer.
Almon 11. Herrington, a white man, but ap-
parently a foreigner, who made the affirmation, and
deposed that he was an engineer. In June last year
he went to the Strangers' Home, East India Dock-
road, and there met the prisoner and another man
named Abdul Cayonm. The prisoner was then at
prayer, and after he had finished they salaamed. In
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 cloth-
ing. 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 out £6O monthly to Calcutta to pay
for the stock the prisoners had, and also paid .£l5 or
£l6 a month for the support of Al's family in Cal-
cutta, which had been paid up to the 30th of July.
Abdul left for his home in December last, and he
(witness) then gave him and Ali the balance of £5OO
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
to sell them. A week ago Ali left the house, and
after a day or two the boxes were forced open, and it
was found that 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 wc...1
a lodger at 51, Regent's-park-road, where he occupied
four rooms.
Cross-examined What does your family consist of?
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 whal way is he your brother ?—ln the faith.
I go to the Strangers' Home from time to time to
see if any brothers needs assistance. It is pure
benevolence. _ _

By the magistrate: I got the £5OO to purchase
these goods, from the treasury at my home in Surat.
It is not my money, but 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 VIO monthly. which I sent to India
through the Oriental Bank appears in Abdul Cayoum's
name. I do not know why he sent the money,
because I did not ask him. Mussulmans never ask
questions of any one 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 £lOO, or even £5OO, I should give it.
Elizabeth Ann Kilpin corroborated the evidence
in chief of Mr. Herrington. In cross-examination she
said: I am a lodger in Mr. Herrington's house, and
am his sister in the sight of God. I am a true
Mussulman. My name in the faith is Zana. I have
lived at 51, Regent's-park-road, about 18 nic_nths, and
occupy the second floor. Vire'are a brotherhood.
The rooms are paid for by the tre,asFy of which you
have already heard. My daughter is the other lady
in the house, and as we all 6elopg to the same
brotherhood our expenses are paid out of the same
treasury. Sometimes as much as £5OOO comes over
to the house in English gold.
After some further evidence, Mr. • De Rutzen
remanded the prisoner for a week, intimating that he
would accept bail in £3O for his appearance