Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-31
OrientaIs I'm the Police Court.
HOW THtY wERE SWORN, AND THE TEST


How THtY wERE SWORN, AND THE TEsTI-
MONY THEY GAVE.
In the Police Court, this morning Moussa
Machftt alias Moussa Durand, a strange
looking, elderly man, dressed in a fancy
costume, trimmed with gold lace, with a red
saSh about his waist, and an immense tur-
ban on his head, was arraigned on the charge
otlsrceny Ofa suit OF Turkish clothes valued
At SIS, from Mohammed Bendaho1t, also a
foreigner, who preiends TO be a native of
Tunis, and In the service OF Moussa Machfitt
Snowman. Mohammed Bendahout an
Olfve-cOmplexiCned, black-eJei young mSn
dressed In a mixed suit OF ready-made
clothing and Turkish and Arabian Orna-
ments, stepped upon the witness stand, at
me same time doffng dim!nutive red skull
cap, with an immense yellow tassel. A dis
cussiOn followed between the two counsel
ard The court as 10
HOW AN OATH COULD RE ADMINISTERED,
be witness standing with the Bible in hand,
ready to accommodate himself TO any con-
illusions upon that point. Mr.. Miller prose
cutting thought the Police Court b BILE would
not DO. ard asked him II he had n Koran
with him on which 10 swear. MOhammed
either did not or would not understand and
The question was repeated 10 him several
Times by Mr.. Miller about the Koran; finally
Mr.. Harper, the clerk, stated TO the court
that when the Information was made the
witness had sworn 10 IL by God and Mo
BANNED his prophet" so Judge Mills direct
ed him 10 hold up his right hand and Mr..
HaIper administered an improvised oath.
MAKING reference to God and his prophet
question, and the witness told his story in
broken English TO the effect that he was en-
P!oy ed as an actor by the defendant and the
latter bad Paid him nothing, and not satisfied
win mat had even taken his Turkish suit
from him.
A HEBREw WITNESS.
Mr. Gloss, who represented MOussa Mach
Mt, introduced another OF the same troupe
named i. Beleshe, an Arabian, who could
speak English. The difficulty about the
cath was solved by the witness himself, who
<u~G1 10 TAw. 81 -.
picked up this man Mshommed Bendahout
n the centennial, in Philadelphia; he was in
rags and without any means whatever.
witness himself was In the employ OF
with Mahommed Bendahout was that ne
should receive share Of what was made by
the exhibitions given by the troupe, Moussa
Macbft TO board them all and furnish cos
TUNES. They had made nothing, and had
consequently been paid nothing except their
board They had lost money In Baltimore
AND In this city. Complainant had sued de-
ferdant for wages in This city, but had lost
MS case, when the contract was made known
10 the magistrate The suit of Clothes was
The properly of Moussa Machfit as were all
The other Turkish dresses.
TWO ARABIAN WOMEN.
mere ue court directed 1. Beleshe To be
VINO were brought in as witnesses for defence
one q child like, olive complexioned and
rather nne looking young Oriental woman
This was Mrs. Iy shea, whom the testimony
oeSeloped 10 De the keeper of Moussa's stage
property. She corrooorated the testimony
Oh 1. lie esne, that the Turkish dress in ones
ZION belonged 10 Moussa Machft, and had
never been nearer COnstantinople than the
centennial; and that she had been the Gus
Ddlan OF all The dresses since the orpaniza
ton or the troupe. The effect of her testi-
mony was TO impress the court that Moha,n-
med Bendaho9t Was considerable OF a Turk-
this rather difficult testimony Judge Mills
dismissed the case.