FINED £25

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 153, 16 March 1923, Page 4

FINED £25

FOR POSSESSING OPIUM CHINAMAN’S NOVEL DEFENCE That the opium found in his possession was not in a form suitable lor smoking, but, on the contrary, was used as a means of ''eradicating the craving for the drug in its concentrated state, was the substance of the defence raised in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday by a Chinese named Wong Tack, alias Wong Ack. alias AVong Ah, etc-, classified as a carpenter and interpreter, G 7 years of age. “It is not opium fit for smoking.” declared the accused when charged. “It is ‘thirds.’ ” The Magistrate (Air. F. K. Hunt, S.M.I: They say it is suitable for smoking. The accused: I don’t use it for that. His Worship: Pelhaps others do. Evidence was given by a constable to the effect that accused was observed through a window secreting the opium in a stocking.. A pipe was also found. Given the right to ask the witness questions, Hie accused, who spoke nood English in a somewhat high-pitched tone, inquired how tho constable would bo able to smoko “with a pipe like that.” His Worship: You show him. The accused: I haven’t smoked for months, and months, and months. - . He added that the opium found in his possession was taken in a drink to stop tho smoking habit. His Worship': Why. then, did you hide it in your stocking? The accused: I always carry things about in ray stocking. His AVorship: Have you anything there now? The accused: No. ■ . A fine of £25 was imposed, and the accused was .allowed a week in which to pay it. ' ■