Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-05-12
THIEVES IN INDIA.
A CALCUTTA BRA HMM WHO SEEM
TO WORK MIRACLES.

His Remarkable Method of Detecting the
Guilty Person-t Is Mystery For
Scientists to Puzzle Over and Has Never
been Explained.
The following extraordinary narra-
ton of facts as they occurred, and
which, we are informed, were witness
ed and can be testified to by the mem
bers of three households occupying al
large house in Bentinck street, Cal
cutta, are so remarkable that it isl
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. 1t may be add
ed that every servant in Calcutta is
lively believer in its efficacy, and, If
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
it to those who employ him to re-
ward him if they think fit. 1t is said
that this is readily done, and that he
makes a good thing out of it.
A cook in the service of family in
the locality alluded to intrusted his
nephew with 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 exact spot was confded to a
friend. Shortly after this the cook
was informed by his nephew that the
pot and money had disappeared. With
the nephew's consent the Brahmin was
summoned 10 discover the thief, and
the following is bare narration of the
extraordinary procedure he adopted.
and usually adopts, in all such cases,
Accompanied by an aid, he comes to
the house, provided with two bamboo
rods about sixteen feet long and an
inch and half in diameter. He also
has with him number of fresh peepul
leaves, cocOanut, some rice and some
vermillion and cowries. a fresh earth
en- dish has to be provided by the per-
son who summons him, as well as q
stool.
All the servants in the house are
summoned They are made to stand
in a half circle, and their names are
written on each leaf, and these leaves
with one painted with the vermiion
are placed in the dish, which in it.
turn is placed on the stool. Two ut
ter strangers are then made to hole
the bamboo rods, one in each hand
opposite each other, with their elbow.
far behind their hips, so that they car
| have little or no influence in turning o.
bending the rods. Now comes tn,
strange part of the proceedings. a
the Brahmin's call of each name, TIL
bamboo rods in the first instance ris
together and form semi-circle above
They then bend, and, forming a semi
circle below, gradually come together
pick up the leaf containing the mann
called out and throw it out of the dish
This strange process is repeated til
the name of the thief. as alleged il
called when they both seize the leaf
lift it up, ard only disengage at tn,
call of the Brahmin. who entreats tn
rods to let the leaf go. To all APP
pearance the two men who hold tn
rods make no effort whatever
The thing is done in such an extra
ordinary fashion as to exceed belief
In fact, reasonable human being can
not believe it till he has witnessed ii
and when he has done so his amaze
ment is all the greater. Here is, in
deed, marvel for the scientist to puz
zle over. The two rods bend, com
together and seize upon the RICH
names as they are called out, and thel
throw them aside except in the case o
the thief. In this instance the nephey
confessed to the theft, and numbe
If his relatives who had come from
up-country to witness the ordeal mad
restitution.