TO GO TO GAOL

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12014, 17 December 1924, Page 7

TO GO TO GAOL

SALAMAH CETS A MONTH ATTEMPTING TO RECEIVE HONEY BY FALSE i’UEJ’ENCES. HOW DRUG ADDICTS WERE MADE. Ter Press Association AUCKLAND, December 16. Abraham Wally Mohamid SalamaiW was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by Air J. W. Poynton, S.M., this morning on a charge of false pretences. Salaman was charged at the Police Court last week with attempting to receive noney bv false pretences by f.’-Isely pietending to be a doctor and skilled in the treatment of physical ailments and diseases. Afrer a lengthy hearing of the charges decision was reserved. Mr A. H Johnstone prosecuted on behalf of Dr. Herbert Oneseon, medical officer for health, at Auckland, while Mr J. Os')urn Lilly appeared for the defendant FORMERLY A DYER. This morning the magistrate promulgated judgment. Defendant v.ns not present. “The defence was the saying that he was an Indian doctor and herbalist,” said the magistrate. “Or rather assenting to the question put to him asking if he were such an individual. tie is not on the medical register, and has no training in surgery, chemistry or medicine. He was formerly a dyer of fabric and clothes, bus no doubt ftm.d his present occupation more lucrative. He keeps a shop where he sells medicine, mostly well known remedies. SAME REMEDY FOR ALL COMPLAINTS. “He has a large number of patients, and in the three cases before the court the sarnie remedies were given, al- ! though the oomplaints to be treated , were quite different. He has got on ; his window a sign with ’Atuh’ after i his name. This is to mystify ‘he ie- j no rant and to attract patients. He j uses a stethoscooe, but places it over i the neck or behind the »'ar,_ where, of j course, it is useless. This is done, as he admitted to a witness, to impress his patients. DOING GOOD BUSINESS. “His bottles are embossed with his name, and the word ‘Atafc,’ which indicates -.hat ho must be doing a eood business. In one case, that of Lenden the person parted with his cash j (15s) under the belief that the accused ! was a doctor It was a case of false pretences, but the other two patient* knew he was not one Therefore the charges of falsa pretences must fail in those two charges.” CONVICTED ON THREE CHARGES. “An attempt to obtain money or goods by false pretences may he sustained in the charge even if the person on whom he attempt is made knew that the pretence was false. It does not require any words to be spoken to induce the victim to part with h» cash or goods. Thus where a fraud donned a student’s University gown and by wearing it got credit which he otherwise would not have got he was held to he guilty Accused will be convicted of attempting to receive on three charges,.” KNOWN AS 'INDIAN DOCTOR.” Mr Osburne Lilly then addressed the court. It was, he said, the first time that Salaman had been before the court on a ohairge of this nature. Counsel pointed out that in two of the present cases the witnesses went to Salaman deliberately to obtain an admission from him, and to trap him into saying that be was a doctor. Salaman had got a reputation and was known by many persons who never went to him as “the Indian doc-tor.’* They referred to him as such. Saloman, himself, never once held out to the public by means of advertisement that be was a doctor or that lie possessed any qualifications. The witness Shiells went to Salaman with a definite object. Shiells was the tool of Dr. B S. Share. Another pha/e of the matter was that the majority of the people who went to Salaman were given up by medical men. Tt was submitted by Mr Osburn Lilly that he knew himself of three cases where Salaman bad effected a cure when medical men had given those three persons np. They had not heard of one ■of Salaman’s failures. Counsel pleaded with the magistrate to inflict a fine and not imprisonment. "NOT A CASE FOR A FINE.” ‘Tt is not a case for a fine,” stated Mr Poynton. “He can easily pass a penalty of Is a week on. His dupes would quickly give him the amount and a little surplus for his trouble. A bad feature in this case is that he gives opium in his ‘night medicine* to make his patients sleep. There is also' strychnine in some of his preparations. Numerous drug addicts were formerly made by medicines received from even qualified practitioners, hut now the greatest care is taken to avoid this. In administering such drags, as opinm, a quack would of course have no such scruples. ; REGRETTABLE FEATURE. "Another regrettable thing is the number of Maoris which Salaman seems to be humbugging. Whites deserve little sympathy, but natives should be protected. On one of the charges (Lender’s case) the accused will be convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, while he will l-e convicted and ordered to pay costs on the other two.” The costs amounted to £l9 12s. Mr Osburne Lilly: My client, Salaman. is rot here, but I will get him on the telephone and see that he reports himself to the police station There will not he anv need to have him arrested. He will go all right. Mr Poynton -. Oh, yes, that trill be all right. The warrant for committal has been feuspended. pending an appeal. DEATH OF PLAINTIFF. Mrs Agnes Stewart, the successful plaintiff in the action for damages against Salaman, the Indian herbalist, died last night.