The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-20
AN INDIAN TRIAL.
suspected Thieves Go Through the
BambOO-Rod Ordeal

Crom the Madras Weekly Maik)
Inc following extraordinary narration
or facts as they occurred, and which we
are informed. were witnessed and can be
testified to by the members of three
households occupying large house in
Bentlnck Street, Calcutta, are so remark
able that 1t is worth the while of any
scientist TO test them personally as this
can be easily done on the occasion of any
theft by domestics in house II NAV be
added that every servant in Calcutta is a
lively believer in its efficacy, and II a
thief, at once confesses. A Brahmin is
the worker of these marvels. He is well
known in Calcutta, and does not profess
to work out his method of theft detection
for money, but leaves 1t 10 those who
employ him TO reward him II they think
fit. 1t Is said that this Is readily done
and that he makes a good thing out of
1t. A cook in the service of a family in
the locality alluded 20 ntrusted his
nephew with a large sum of money to
keep in deposit The nephew alleged that
he placed the money IN an earthen pot,
which he buried. The location of the ex-
act spot was confided TO friend. Short
ly after this the cook was informed by
his nephew that the pot and money had
disappeared. With the nephews consent
the Brahmin was summoned to discover
the thief, and the following is a bare
narration of the extraordinary procedure
he adopted, and usually adopts, in all
such cases. Accompanied by an aid he
comes 10 the house, provided with two
bamboo rods, about sixteen feet long and
an inch and a half in diameter. He also
has with him number of fresh peepul
leaves, cocoanut, some rice and some
vermillion and cowries; fresh earthen
dish has 10 be provided by the person
who summons him as well as a stool.
All the servants in the house are sum
moned. they are made 10 stand In a half
circle, and their names are written on
each leaf and these leaves with one
painted with the vermillion are placed in
the dish, which in its turn is placed on
! the stool. Two utter strangers are then
made TO hold the bamboo rods, one in
each hand. opposite each other with
their elbows far behind their hips, SO
that they can have little or no influence
in turning or bending the rods. Now
comes the strange part of the proceed
ings. AT the Brahmin's call OF each
name, the bamboo rods in the first in
stance rise together and form a semi-cir-
Gle above; they then bend, and, forming
| a semi-eircle below, gradually come to-
gether, pick up the leaf containing the
name Cdiitu OUT, anu throw II OUT OF IIc
dish. This strange process is repeated till
the name of the thief as alleged, is call
ed, when they both seize the leaf, lift 1t
up. and only disengage it at the call of
| the Brahmin, who entreats the rods to let
| the leaf go. To all appearance the two
men who hold ths rods make no effort
| whatever. The thing is done in such an
! extraordinary fashion as to exceed be-
! lief In fact, a reasonable human being
| cannot believe it till he has witnessed ii,
and when he has done so mis- amazement
! is all the greater Here is, indeed, a
! marvel for the scientist to puzzle over.
| The two rods bend. come together, and
! seize upon the right names as they are
! called out, and then throw them aside
| except in the case of the thief. In this
! instance the nephew confessed TO the
| theft and a number CT his relatives who
! had come from up-country to witness the
! ordeal made restitution.