In late August 1928, newspapers across Britain retold the horrific story of a brutal murder in the grounds of London Zoo. Syed Ali, a famous and celebrated mahout (elephant trainer), had been found bludgeoned to death in his bed above the tapir house. His roommate, San Dwe, a fellow elephant trainer, had been found by police just after midnight, half dressed and visibly in distress. According to the account in the Coventry Evening Telegraph (4th September 1928), when found, San Dwe was alleged to have told police:

Youssif Ali, son of Mahammad Cassie Ali and Babe Ali, a Bengali born in Sylhet (now Bangladesh) came to England in the early 1920s. He was the last soldier buried at the Muslim Burial Ground (Brookwood Cemetery) on 12 May 1947... As a young man, Youssif Ali regularly travelled between India and London aboard merchant ships. After meeting and marrying Ethel Emma Wallace in London during the late 1920s, he no longer travelled. Instead he became a Court interpreter for Indian seaman apprehended for various..