TEN CHINESE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 234, 30 June 1938, Page 8

TEN CHINESE

Result Of Gaining Raid ALL PLEAD GUILTY Ten Chinese appeared before Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M.. iu the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. Harry storekeeper, aged 36, was fined £75 for being the occupier of premises used as a common gaming house, and the other nine were fined £2 and costs for being on the premises. The men fined for being o the premises were all fruiterers and their names were as follows:—Charlie Hong, aged 45 ; Fee Joe, aged 34; Peter Young, aged 32; Wong Lee. aged. 53; Tom Me Wong, aged 43; Wong Hing, aged 54; Ching Heng Yen, agtd 30; Ah Lim, aged 72; Get Wong, aged 46. All pleaded guilty. Peter Young and Harry Wong were represented by Mr. W. G. Mellish.

Deteetive-Sergeant-P. Doyle, who prosecuted, said that Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan had visited the premises several times and had warned Wong. When the raid was carried out on Tuesday 12 Chinese were found on the premises. Two escaped and a third was arrested by tective Smeaton when attempting to get away.

When arrested several of .the men had substantial sums of money in their possession, but Detective-Sergeant Doyie said that he believed their explanation that it was for purchases in the market. Harry Wong had been before the court only ©nee before, 14 years ago, said Mr. Mellish. The betting was of a mild character and was mainly in threepences. Speaking for Young, he said that his client had not been in any trouble before and he was a respected citizen. "The law considers this type of action illegal.” said the magistrate, “but it does not necessarily reflect on a man’s character or infer that he is addicted to gambling. But keeping gaming houses is becoming a general nuisance. Wong has previous convictions for this type of offence and there is no doubt but that he knejy what he was doing and the risk he was taking. He was probably making handsome profits.”

An order was made for the destruction of the gaining implements, which included dominoes and dice.