CHINESE GAMBLING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1914, Page 8

CHINESE GAMBLING

j A FINE OF £20. ! As the result of raids made recently on Chinese gambling houses by Detec-tive-Sergeant Cassells, of Mount Cook, Wong Ling was charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr.' W. G. Riddell, S.M., with having been the occupier of certain premises in Hainingstreet, and using the same as a common gaming house. Detective-Sergeant Cassells stated that he went to accused's house on the 11th February, searched the premises, and found all the paraphernalia for playing pakapoo. Replying to Mr. J. F. W. Dickson, the witness stated that the premises were raided about a month previously. The accused, who was only an agent for the "hawkers," was a very quiet man. He got a penny on each ticket, and took all the risk. The defendant was not on the premises when the previous raid was made, about a month ago. Mr. Dicksoii pleaded guilty on behalf of his client, who, he said, was a recent arrival ihere. He found the tickets belonging to a former occupant of the premises, and could not resist the temptation to make use of them. He was suffering from an incurable disease, and came to Wellington to consult a Chinese specialist, bringing a prescription from Dr. Savage, of Auckland. His Worship said that the statute provided for a penalty of £100 or three months' imprisonment for the offence. It was well known that many convictions had been recorded in similar cases. The defendant would be fined £20 and £1 Is costs, in default six weeks' imprisonment. , Ah Lum, who was convicted about a month ago for a similar offence, was charged with assisting in the management of a lottery on the 11th February, and with having been found in a common gambling house in Haining-street on the same date. Detective-Sergeant Cassells gave evidence as to the arrest of the accused, and as to finding tickets on which the ink was not quite dry. Constables Wilson and Dunn deposed to finding tickets dropped on the floor by the accused, who attempted to resist and get away. Mr. Dickson submitted that the case must be dismissed, as it was necessary to prove that the whole game of paka poo had been played, and that had not been proved. Defendant, who gave evidence in his own defence, said the pakapoo tickets had been given him by a friend, but he did not know his name or address. He could not say whether or not the tickets were for a lottery that had been drawn His Worship said he would reserve his judgment in this case, in order to consider the Doint raised by defendant's counsel. Bail of £50 was allowed.