FAN-TAN RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1934, Page 8

FAN-TAN RAID.

LAUNDRYMAN FINED £25.

DEFENCE DISBELIEVED. "The evidence given by accused and witnesses called for the defence does not convince nie, and I' believe the evidence of the police that he was one of the users," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court this morning, when he fined Ying Wong, aged 38, a laundry man, £25, or one month's imprisonment, on a charge of using premises in Grey Avenue as a common gaming house on January 21.

The charge was the sequel to a raid made by detectives on January 21. A largo number of Chinese were dealt with in court last week.

Detective Brady gave evidence that the raiding party surprised 19 Chinese in the basement of the house. A fan-tan "bank" was in progress and Ying Wong was found sitting at the top of the table, operating the game. The material used was in front of him. There was a scramble when the police party entered and witness picked up five £1 notes which fell on the floor near Ying Wong. Ying Wong denied that this money was his, but later he claimed it as his property. There was £1 107 lying on the table.

Cross-examined by Mr. S. Tong, who appeared for accused, Detective Brady said accused had no opportunity of leaving the table. There were two other Chinese alongside him. but the fan-tan game was not in front of them. It was true that one of the 19 men did not answer to his bail last week, but witness understood that this was because he had to go to the city markets. Detective-Sergeant MeHugh and two other detectives gave similar evidence. Mr. Tong said Ying Wong would admit lie went to the house to gamble, but he would deny that he was in charge of the game. The occupier of the house had been fined on a similar charge last week, and he and others would say in evidence that the "banker" was not accused, but the only one of the 19 Chinese who did not answer to his bail. Counsel submitted that the evidence before the Court did not substantiate or prove the charge brought. One isolated occurrence did not come within the section under which the charge was laid.

Accused and a number of Chinese who were present when the raid was made then gave evidence, all stating that accused was merely a player and not the "banker" or assistant.

Following the magistrate's decision, Mr. Tong asked that security for leave to appeal be fixed. This Mr. Wilson fixed at £35.