FRAUD ALLEGED

Southland Times, Issue 20147, 6 April 1927, Page 6

FRAUD ALLEGED

HERBALIST CHARGED THE SALAMAN CASE A FURTHER ADJOURNMENT (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, April 5. The hearing of six charges of attempting to obtain from David John O’Carroll and Charles Lawrence Packman, sums of money totalling £3 15/9 by falsely representing he was a person capable of diagnosing and curing all ailments and skilled in the treatment of disease, preferred against an Indian herbalist, “Atah” Abraham Wally Mohamed Salaman, aged 40 (Mr Schuamm) . was continued in the Police Court to-day. Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., was on the bench and Chief Detective Cummings prosecuted.

Salaman told the court that some of his patients were so grateful to him that they had presented him with medals and produced several which were suitably inscribed. Salaman then issued a challenge to the doctors. “If they like to take ten patients from the Auckland Hospital, I will diagnose them against any doctor in Auckland,” he said. He was prepared to pay £5O to the hospital funds if they discredited him.

Cross-examined, Salaman admitted he was not registered as a chemist or medical practitioner in any country in the world. Chief-Detective Cummings: "You were sentenced to a month on a similar offence to the present one and appealed to the Supreme Court on two occasions.”

“They never gave me a chance to defend the case,” Salaman complained. “I acquired a knowledge of the stethoscope when I made a telephone when I was a boy in India.” “You give all your patients all the same medicine, irrespective of what they are suffering from?” asked Mr Cummings. “Oh no, I learnt in India and I am still learning,” he said in reply to a question regarding his qualifications. Both constables had no faith in him, he said. All the others had faith. Mr Cummings: ‘You give all your patients pills?” Witness: “Oh yes, with medicine.” “I won’t give any information. I won’t tell what the bottles contained,” Salaman said when the Chief-Detective asked him about his stock at present at the Police Station. “Did your ancestors believe in the patent medicines that are used now ?” asked the chief. “I never give patent medicines,” said Salaman. Mr Cummings: “Are you prepared to tell us what profit you have made during the last twelve months?” Witness: “I can’t tell.” Mr Cummings: “Do you believe in surgery ?” Witness: “Oh yes, in some cases.” Mr Cummings: “Would you feel yourself qualified to perform an operation?” Witness: “Oh no.” “They are suffering from the complaints I put down here,” said Salaman by way of cheering up the two constables who had visited him. “The doctors are against me,” was his reply to what the three medical men said yesterday. “No,” he said when asked if he had shown indecent cards to any of his patients. Several witnesses who claimed to have been cured by accused then gave evidence. Annie Maria Marshall said her son was operated on for cancer when a fortnight old. Mr Carrick Robertson and Dr Sweet stated the child had only a fortnight to live and there was no hope for him. Salaman prescribed donkey’s milk, mare’s milk or goat-milk for the child. Goat’s milk was given, the trouble disappeared and the child had been in good health since. At this stage, the hearing was adjourned till to-morrow.