A STAMBOUL LAWSUIT

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6603, 23 May 1925, Page 8

A STAMBOUL LAWSUIT

THE STOLEN PRAYING CARPET

(From Manchester Guardian Correspondent.) CONSTANTINOPLE, March 25. I write this in a Stamboul law court with my interpreter beside me. Ali Asgar, a Persian, is accused by Nigar Hanum, a Turkish woman, of stealing from her while she was out a tambourine, a narghile—one of those long-stemmed Oriental pipes with bubbling water-coolers for the smoke to filter through—and the carpet on which her late husband made his devotions on the night of their marriage. When the prisoner enters the public titters and mocks him with the nickname of the Squinting Persian. The president of the court, in a decent but age-worn black suit and wearing a black astrakan kalpak on his head, had his,work cut out to keep order...- His interrogatory begins:— Your age?—l don’t know. You don’t know?—Well, between thirty and thirty-five. Where do you live? —At home. The act of accusation is read. What have you to say?—l know nothing about it. >* Who stole the things?—A thief; not me. But they say it was you?—May I lose my dog and donkey if I stole them. lam an honest man.

The plaintiff, Nigar Planum, a Turkish woman of fifty hard-worn winters-, is called. She lifts a hennareddened hand and points at the prisoner. Judge effendi, I swear that s the man who stole my things. If you only knew what a villian he is! He could cheat the devil himself. Look at his eyes. Defendant: What’s wrong with my eyes? Plaintiff: Oh, they’re lovely! President euendi, look at his squinting, leering eyes. He has looked crossways at Allah. How could he not have leered covetously at his neighbour’s goods ? President: Come to the facts. Was anyone at home when the theft occurred ?

Plaintiff: How could we know that anyone would come in and steal? Our neighbour’s wife had just had a child and we had all gone with her to the baths. It was our duty. We had beien neighbours for so long. When we came back everything was upside down. Beside, I have" witnesses. A witness is called., She is a pretty young hanum with light black veil, which she lifts, showing her mouth and the tip of her nose. She gives her evidence in a staccato sing-song. May Allah preserve our neighbours! There are no honest men left in the world. Work and earn and do not covet the goods of others. Is it enough to dye one’s hair and beard to be young? Prisoner: President effendi, what does it matter to her if T dye my hair, moustache and eyebrows ?

The president intervenes and tries again and again to bring the parties and the witnesses back to the point. At last a merchant of the Grand Bazaar is called and declares that the prisoner brought him for sale a fine ivory inlaid tambourine —“a fine one,” he repeats, “and full of sound.’’ He did not purchase it. It did not suit him. Besides, he did not like the looks of the prisoner. The evidence (such as it is) draws to an end. Nigar Hanum cries out to the judge: ' Let him keep the other things if he wants, but give me back the carpet on which my poor husband prayed on our marriage night. Three months’ imprisonment for the Squinting Persian.