OPIUM SMOKED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 42, 20 February 1933, Page 8

OPIUM SMOKED.

POLICE FIND PIPE HOT.

THREE CHINESE FINED. "NOT AN ORDINARY DEN." Yesterday afternoon at 4.40, DetectiveSergeant MeHugh and Detective Mills executed a search warrant at an apartment house in Albert Street. They entered a roorA and arrested three Chinese. This morning, in the Police Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., Chan Fun, aged 44, fruiterer, appeared on charges of permitting the premises to be used for the smoking of opium and unlawfully having in his possession 10 packets of prepared opium. The other two men arrested, Low Poon, 44, and Harry Joon, 32. both fruiterers, were each charged with being found without lawful excuse on premises used for the smoking of opium and further with unlawfully having in their possession 10 packets of prepared opium. Mr. L. P. Learv represented the three accused. Chan Fun pleaded guilty and the other two not guilty. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said Chan Fun opened the door to witness. On a rug on the floor was lying the usual paraphernalia used for opium smoking. There was one lamp and one opium pipe, both being hot. All three men had their coats off. Chan Fun admitted that he was the occupier of the room and that he paid 8/ weekly for it. He said that Low Poon and Harry Joon were old friends and had only come to visit him. "The room was not the usual opium den and Chan Fun opened the door as soon as I knocked," added Mr. MeHugh. "There were no barricades and the room was nice and clean and tidy." "Entertaining Friends." Mr. Leary said Chan Fun obviously bore the appearance of an opium smoker. Ho was in poor health And smoked opium periodically. As Detec-tive-Sergeant MeHugh had stated, it was not a proper opium den, but a room in a well kept apartment house. The opium utensils were only suflicicnt for the one smoker, and there was no suggestion of a bulk supply in any sense. All the men were of good character. Yesterday Chan Fun had a few whirl's at the opium pipe, but the other two did not smoke. "It was rather peculiar for Chan Fun to entertain two friends and to smoke while they were there," said the magistrate. "Not at all," said counsel. "The first time a man takes opium he dazes oil' into a pleasant dream, but afterwards he can smoke without going to sleep." AH Convicted. The three Chinese gave .evidence, Chan Fun stating that he usually smoked 14 packets of opium per week. Low Poon and Harry Joon were not opium smokers, and neither had a smoke yesterday. Low Poon and Harry Joon gave similar evidence. The magistrate said he would convict all three accused. However, the case was not as bad as previous cases, and there was no suggestion of a speciallyfitted opium den. The first charge against Chan Fun was withdrawn, and he was. fined £25 on the second. The police offered no evidence on the second charge preferred against the other two Chinese, and each was fined the minimum, £12 10/, on the first count.