PAK-A-POO PLAYING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 14

PAK-A-POO PLAYING.

THE RECENT. HAINING STREET RAID. CHINAMEN 'AND ET7ROPEAJSII3 PINED. A decision was given by Mr. W. Q. Riddell, SJkL,' in the, Magistrate's .'Cotirt.; ye&i torday morning in the first prosecution ririder the new. Gaming-and Lotteries Act, 1907.. A Chinaman named Ah Joe-was prosecuted by tho. police on a charge of being the occupier of certain premises, 51 Haining Street, and using. the same as' a common gaming house. The prosecution, said his Worship, proved that defendant was occupying the premises mentioned in the information, that bundlea of unused pak-a-poo' tickets',were found on the premises, that; on different occasions defendant sold a pak-a-poo ticket to a "certain constable,' that defendant told the constable when the result would be/known, and allowed him to compare the ticket purchased with another on the premises to ascertain, if ho had won a prize. After comparison the constable was informed that he had not won a prize. ■ On arrest, defendant admitted to Detective Kemp that he had been selling -pak-a-poo tickets.' On each occasion the constable had visited defendant's premises; a number : of Europeans were present. Defendant called no evidence. After reviewing the provisions bf tho Act, his Worship said that pak-a-poo tickets were'found in defendant's house,'and in the . absence of evidence to the contrary this was'sufficient'toJ showthat the house was used as a common gaming house. The onus was: .on /defendant to- provej otherwise, and : be'had not done 60.i Defendant would be convicted-and, fined £50, and costs £1 lis. 6d., in default tyo months' imprisonment. Joo Wee, charged with a similar offeree to the above, and who had pleaded nofgcilty' /pending- a*, decision-in the first case, altered . his plea to one of guilty, and was also convicted arid fined £50, and Copts £1 /Lls.'6d., in default two months' imprisonment. -Eleven. Europeans, Chas. George Brearloy,' AVm. Walker, : George Fuller, ; James Ready, „ Chas. Oscar, Ranstrom, Peter . Lapayrie, -John Paterson, John -Meech, Ernest Evans, Chas. - Mathieson, and George Stanton, were charged -with having been found in the above houses l when they entered by the police. ' ' Defendants Reddy and Evans pleaded not guilty, and the others pleaded guilty. . Mr. Herdman, who appeared for the whole 1 of the defendarits,-including the Chinaraon, remarked that the prosecution was the first unier tho new Act, hfld the principals had each been fined £50. He would ask t! at a small fine should be inflicted.on the ethers, who were; all - working men.',' As?to, Reddy and 'Evans, they went iritd tho houses) when tho police wore >thore, probably attracted by the. disturbance. -They were not found on the:premises:When;the'police ,entered..; . i : Inspector Ellison to the Court: These two men aid come in after the police. No doubt .they';were' disappointed, to 'find the" police, there."' -* • - Defendant Reddy said he was passing along Haining Street when he saw the rush for vthe house: ."He ' out 'of'curiosity. ', To.:lnspector, '. Ellison: He:knew , nothing about the game, of pak-a-poo. ■ ' - Defendant Evans said ne went into tho house after the police, his object being to have, a lookat. the. bank. , Inspector'Ellison;-What bank? ' Defendant: The pak-a-poo bank. I wanted to have a look at the result of the drawing: Continuing, .defendant admitted that someone . told him it would_ cost him £5 if he .went in. . He still went in, not knowing what was wrong. ; \ . • , His Worship . said there was some doubt about Reddy's case, and defendant must get the benefit of it. The information against him would-bo,-dismissed,, Each: of the other defendants would he convicted and fined' £2 10s., and cost 75., in dp.fanU, 14 'lays' imErisonment. Defendants were allowed 12 ours in which to pay the.fines. .