New-York tribune., 1907-12-18
RANSOM FOR SIR HARRY
How RaisuH, the Moorish Bandit
Chief, Has Helped London Guild.

fCopyrSht the Brentwood COMPANY 1907 All rights
reserved)
Sir Harry MacLean's liberation from the captivity
In which he has been detained for several months
past by RaisuH the great insurgent chieftan of
Morocco is on the OF accomplishment, and may
have taken place already before this letter appears
in print 1t has involved much delicate work by the
English envoy. Sir Gerard Lowther. who, on the
one hand. obliged to obstain from anything
that could be construed into his recognition Of
Raisuli's pretensions to power, while. the other
hand he realized that any attempt TO force.
either through the Sultan Of Morocco through
an English armed expedition, would probably have
resulted in old Sir Harry being put TO death by
RajsuH. II is understood that Raisul has received
a large sum in ransom This. it seems. will be In
the long betrayed. not by the Britsh Treasury,
nor even by the Sultan who is in terribly strait
ened financial circumstances Il will from
a fund left two hundred years ago by a very
wealthy London ironmonger, named Thomas Bet
ton. who on his death. bequeathed one-half of his
large estate to the Ironnongers' Company Guild.
to be held IN trust for the purpose OF the ire
dempton Of British slaves in Turkey or Barbary.'
For over one hundred years after the death of the
testator large sums were employed in carrying out
his wishes. the last payment in this connection
being made in 1926 Since then the money has gone
on accommodating IN the possession of the Ironmon-
ge~'' Company. The government Charity Conrnis
sioners. learning Of this. proceeded not long to
take legal steps under the powers conferred upon
them by the education law of 1889 TO have the
money diverted from the object of the testator and
applied to useful educational purposes designated
by themselves. taking the ground that British sub
Jects longer held in bondage. either in Bar
barry or Turkey. This view naturally bitterly
opposed by the Ironmongers' Company. who did
not relish the idea of the control and management
OF the now huge fund passing out Of their hands.
The up for trial in London a few
weeks ago and the fact that Sir Harry MacLean
has been for months in captivity in Barbary. held
In bondage by the robber chieftain Raisuli. has
had the effect OF knocking away the very basis
had
ed their application Had IL not been for this seiz-
ure and captivity Of Sir Harry MacLean the Charity
Commissioners would undoubtedly have won their
case.
As matters stand. the suit has been decided
against them. the presiding Judge in the chancery
division OF the High Court of Justice taking the
ground that there cause for modifying
altering the object OF the fund, since the purpose
for which it created by the testator still
listed. shown by the predicament of Sir Harry
MacLean. The ancient City Guild. known the
Ironmongers' Company. founded in 1851 under a
charter King Edward III, therefore retains pos
session Of the management OF the huge Betton
charity and will gladly pay the large sum of money
demanded by Raisul for the ransom OF Sir Harry
since the opportunity which has arisen for their
furnishing the amount required has enabled them
to their In fact have no doubt that at
the next banquet OF the Ironmongers Company in
its vast hall in Fenchurch street. Raisuli will be
toasted as a friend and benefactor of the guild
which would assuredly have been obliged
render all the Betton estate to the Charity Com
rnissioners had he not captured Sir Harry MacLean
and detained him in captivity
Sir Harry MacLean my readers may recall. is
the Scottish commander in chief OF the Sultan
Of Morocco's army formerly officer OF the
6Sth Regiment OF Infantry In tie British army.
quitting the English services for that OF the Sui
tan Of Morocco on making unfortunate marriage
at Gibraltar which rendered his continuance with
his regiment impossible He belongs to very an
cient and historic Scotch family and has strven
his utrnos: while in Moorish employ 20 advance ehe
cause OF civilization IN that particularly somore
and barbarous corner of the Dark Continent In
deed his services IN this respect have been recos
n,zed by almost every great power OF Europe with
orders OF knighthood. England having created MIN
knight commander OF the Order OF Ct Michael and
St George