OPIUM DEN RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 161, 10 July 1935, Page 9

OPIUM DEN RAID.

FIVE CHINESE FINED.

SOME PERSISTENT OFFENDERS

OCCUPIER TO PAY £80. The five Chinese who were caught by detectives when a building in Grey Avenue, used as an opium smoking place, was raided on Saturday afternoon last, all appeared before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Lee On, for whom Mr. Dyson appeared, pleaded guilty to charges of having prepared opium in his possession and permitting the premises to be used for the purpose of smoking opium. Detective-Sergeant McHugh, who prosecuted, said that as the results of complaints the police kept watch on the premises, which were raided at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The police entered through, the roof, as the building was heavily barricaded. One Chinese was caught trying to dispose of a bag which contained three warm opium pipes. Ten, head rests and other opium smoking paraphernalia were seized by the detectives. In the possession of Lee On was found a tin containing 29 small packets of opium, which were said at 5/ each. Lee On admitted that he was the keeper of the premises. The detectives also found ingredients used in the making of opium pipes. Lee On had never been in trouble previously. "This accused went under the name of Wong Fat Yan, and had a fat banking account," said Mr. McHugh.

His First Offence. "I hope the 'fat banking account' will not weign with your Worship in inflicting the fine," said Mr. Dyson. Counsel said Lee On showed commendable frankness when the detectives "dropped in on him" on Saturday. "Opium smoking is one of the few vices which the Chinese community in Auckland is unfortunately concerned," he added. "A man cannot very well run an opium den without having opium on the premises. As the two charges really] arise from the one offence, and as there is a maximum penalty of £200 and a minimum of £50 on- one of these charges, I trust that your Worship will not impose more than the minimum fine, this being Lee On's first offence," The magistrate remarked that, apart from the fact that this was Lee On's first appearance in Court, there were really no other extenuating circumstances. For having prepared opium in his possession, Lee On was lined £30 and costs, and on the other charge ho was fined £50, the minimum fine, the default being fixed at two months in the first case and three -months in the second. After evidence had been given by Detective Mahood, Ah Lie went into the box and said ho visited Lee On, who was his cousin, to ask him for some money to pay his fine. However, when Lee On was called as a witness he denied that Ah Lie was Ills cousin. Ah Lie, he said, was only a friend. Mr. S. Tong, on behalf of Albert Hong Duck, said this Chinese merely went to tlio house to try to collect some costsarising out of a previous raid. "Unfortunately procrastination is a failing of Orientals, and he stayed there too long,'' said counsel.

Caught Two Days Later. Charged with being found without lawful excuse on premises used for the smoking of opium, Kee Lee, Ah Kee and Albert Hong Duck pleaded guilty. Similarly charged, Ah Lie pleaded not guilty Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that with the exception of Ah Kee all the other Chinese had been before the Court on July 4, when they ~ were fined and allowed time to pay Mr. Dyson said. Kee Lee and Ah Kee had lunch with Lee On on Saturday, and afterwards •emaine'd on the premises. Neither took any part in opium smoking. Ah Lie went to the house to see Lee On for the purpose of borrowing some money to pay his fine for the last raid. He had a reasonable excuse for being on the premises. "These men, who were before me on July 4, were evidently not impressed by the fact that I imposed the minimum fine and allowed them a weefc to pay, as they were found in another opium den two days later," eaid the magistrate. "It looks as if they were encouraged by it. I imposed the minimum penalty last week and this is what happens." Ah Lie, whom the magistrate eaid had not told the truth, was fined £20. Ah Kee was fined £12 10/, Albert Wong Duck £15 and Kee Lee £15. All were allowed one week in which to pay.