PAKAPOO RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1934, Page 9

PAKAPOO RAID.

CHINESE CHARGED.

FINES OF £25 IMPOSED.

DETECTIVES' SURPRISE VISIT.

As a sequel to a surprise visit paid to premises at 40, Pitt Street, by a party of detectives last evening two Chinese and two Maoris appeared before Mr. F. Iv. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Wong Yin, aged 70, described as a laundryman and miner, was charged with using the premises as a common gaining house, Ah Wong, 41, a laundryman and carrier, witii assisting in the management and with being found on the premises without lawful excuse, and Henry Thomas Jones and Sam Nui with being found on the premises without lawful excuse.

On behalf of Yin and Wong, Mr. Tong pleaded guilty, while Jones and Nui pleaded not guilty. Senior Detective Hall said that, following a complaint that the premises at 40, Pitt Street were being used as a common gaming house, a constable in plain clothes went to the premises to obtain evidence. There were some Europeans present, and the two Chinese were seated at a table. The constable purchased two Od tickets from Wong Yin for the S o'clock pakapoo bank. Later in the evening on the same day the constable again called at the premises. The Chinese accused were still there and there were also present seven other persons who were apparently there for tiie purpose of buying tickets. The constable learnt that the 8 o'clock bank had been drawn and that he had not won a prize. Two more tickets were bought by the constable from Wong Yin. " I am the Boss." At 7.45 last evening, continued the senior detective, a constable again went to the premises and saw the two Chinese accused and three others there. The constable purchased two more tickets, this time from Ah Wong. When the raiding party, consisting of Detectives Nalder, Hunt, Slater, Agnew and McLean, arrived shortly afterwards they fonml Yin in a back room having a smoke, while Ah Wong was seated at a table on which was the usual paraphernalia associated with pakapoo. When the detectives spoke to Ah Wong, Yin came forward from the back room and said that he was the boss and asked to see the search warrant. Ah Wong was asked if he was a boss also, but said that Yin was his cousin and that ho had come to see him. Ah Wong later protested when the detectives took possession of the gear on the table.

It was stated that Ah Wong had been fined £50 last year and that Yin had also been fined previously for being found on premises used as a common gaming house.

"There is not a great deal that can be said," said Mr. Tong. "Wong Yin has been 54 years in the country. He is too old to do any hard work, and this, apparently, is the only means he has of keeping himself going. Ah Wong took no active part in the business."

Wong Yin and Ah Wong were each fined £25 or three months, while the second charge against Ah Wong was dismissed.-

Jones and Nui were fined £1 each,