Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-10
GOLD BR1cKED THE BURMAN.
Work In the East Is
Artistic.

Special Cabiegram to The Star.
CALCUTTA, December 10.-American and
European confidence men pale into ineffec-
tuaI glow before the glories Of their fellow
professors OF the east. Even in the austere
atmosphere OF q district magistrates court
at Rangoon q recent case Of imposture
showed up like q fairy tale backed up by
sworn evidence. The complainant, very
old man living at Prone, possessed two
houses, a wife and daughter. and these
last owned q quantity OF jewelry. He was
great believer In the magic powers Of the
two Kadawa or particularly holy priests.
but his religious fervor had in it alarge alloy
OF avarice. When. therefore. q certain
Burman and his wife were introduced to
him as persons enjoying such influence with
the Kadawa that the holy men would trans
mute the baser metals into gold at their
request It was natural that he should de-
sire to profit by the acquaintance. The old
man expressed a wish to see the Kadawa
and was taken to a cave In a pagoda in
Prone, where he says he saw miraculous
vision OF phe0ngyi or monk standing out
before the district magistrate that they had
seen the extraordinary vision and all be-
lieved In his supernatural powers.
After some visits to the cave a message
was Drought from the puOOu&yt 10 the seek
er after wealth that II he brought 5000 ru-
pees he would get in exchange fifty vfss of
gold, and further. II the sum was doubled
he would receive 100 viss Of gold. He i'm
mediately pledged his wife's jewelry for
5000 rupees and this money was taken to
the phoongyi by the Kadawa's alleged
friend A number of villagers accompanied
him, and they all worshiped the phoongyi.
monk disappeared. Complainant was prom
ised 100 viss of gold In forty-nine days from
the phoongyi, and to convince him OF the
truth of his supernatural powers several
other people were called forward and were
presented with an apparently large amount
Of gold. He thereupon went home FUZZY
convinced after being assured that he would
receive letter which would drop from the
sky, and he was asked to 90 everything
which was requested In 1t and to burn the
epistle and drink the ashes In water. Short
ly afterward complainant received letter
from the mysterious phoongyi. 1t contained
another request for 1000 rupees, with prom
Uses of further wealth in gold. Complainant
raised the money by mortgaging one OF his
houses. When the amount was made over
at the pagOda to the same intermediary as
In the former transaction the phongyi sud
denly appeared floating in space and as
sured the complainant that he had power
to light up all the pagodas OF the earth, and
after making this assurance disappeared In
the air. Some witnesses stated that they
saw the phoongyi disappear in a cave. and
when they all looked round they suddenly
beheld a pagoda standing on a hill opposite
burst into flames and become beautifully
Illuminated. After this complainant re-
ceived q third letter in the same mysterious
way, requesting the payment Of a sum of
5000 rupees to the Shan Shwo Kadaw, who
would this time be found In a cave. Coming
under the spell of the same mysterious de-
lusions he procured the money by mort
gaging his second house. When no gold was
forthcoming compliments wife reported
the matter to the police, who brought about
the arrest of the intermediary. his wife and
his mother-in-law. They were. respectively,
sentenced to seven years. three years and
nix months rigorous Imprisonment.