"AN OPIUM HOUSE"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1928, Page 14

"AN OPIUM HOUSE"

RAID BY POLICE CHINESE HEAVILY FINED A two-storied house of six rooms, No. 0, Haining street, was raided by Detectives Jarrold and M'Lennan, Act--ing-Detective Harding, and Constable Corstau on 29th June in search' of opium. They found a quantity of opium and two Chinese, Low Leong and Wong Hong, whom they arrested. To-day the two .Chinese appeared in the Magistrate's Court, Low Loong being charged with being unlawfully in possession of prepared opium, and Vong Hong with unlawfully smoking prepared opium, and having unlawfully in his possession prepared opium and an jpium pipe. Mr. P. S. K. Macasscy conducted the prosecution. The police evidence showed that the detectives entered at tho rear of the premises and found the back door locked. They heard movement inside, and it was some time before they were adj itted, the door ultimately being opened by Low Leong. The officers immediately smelt opium fumes. Using their torches, they walked through the house and saw Wong Hong in the front room put down the bowl of an opium pipe in the corner. This was found to be still hot, with traces of opium inside and around the top. A search was made, and tho police, on removing a board which was fitted, but not nailed, in the wall close to where Wong Hong was crouching, found four two-ounce tobacco tins containing opium "seconds," a small jar containing the remains of opium, a pipe, and a needle with traces of opium on it. Under the stairs there was an opium bed or bunk, at the side of which was an opium lamp, still hot, an eggcup containing hot grease, and some liquid opium on a small square of brown paper. In the kitchen the police found that a wall board, about four feet above. the floor, lifted out. Concealed in the lining was a one-pound tin of opium about one-fifth full, and in a tobacco tin behind a picture was a quantity of opium "seconds." Other articles, including needles, a knife, and scissors, all bearing traces of opium, were also found in the kitchen. Low Leong admitted he was the occupier of the premises and that the opium which had been found was,his. Wong Hong, who had £133 14s 2d in his possession, said he had come from Christchurch, and was living with Low Leong temporarily. He admitted smoking opium, but for the first time. OPIUM SMOKING DEN. Aetiiig-Detective Harding said that at the time they entered the house both the accused were in a dazed condition and the place reeked of opium fumes. The house was specially fitted up for opium smoking. Each of the inside doors was heavily reinforced and the outside doors had heavy wooden bars fitted into iron slots across them. Each room was arranged in such a manner that refuge could, be taken in any one of them for some time. The house, which was commonly regarded as an opium smoking dcii, had been raided several times. Detective Jarrold, in the course of his evidence, stated that he said to Wong Hong: "You have been smoking opium." Wong Hong replied that he had but for the first time. Cross-examined by Mr. Treadwcll (counsel for the two accused), Detective Jarrold said that a lib tin of opium would cost from £12 to £17, according to the scarcity of the drug. He had known, of the premises for the past seven or eight years; they wore used "purely as a place for the smoking of opium." The house had been frequently raided. DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN EVIDENCE. Asked by Mr. Treadwell to explain why the house had not been raided before during Hie past twelve months, the detective said that it was very difficult to get into opium houses. He knew of several opium dens in Haining street, which would have to be pulled practically to pieces before an entrance could be effected. So securely were the places locked and barred that while an entrance was being forced the occupants had time to burn their opium and smoking paraphernalia, with the result that all evidence against them was lost. Mr. Treadwell submitted that Wong Hong was not an opium smoker and had never smoked opium in his life. Wong Hong had come from China about twelve months ago and had only recently gone to live at 6, Haining street. Low Leong, however, who admitted smoking the opium, was an addict. With the aid of an interpreter Wong Hong said that he was reading a paper in the kitchen when the police raided the premises. Ho was not smoking opium, and it was he who opened the door. Low Leon was smoking opium before the police arrived. Low Leon, who was unable to speak any English, admitted through an interpreter having the opium in his possession, and said he ','got it from the sailors." He did not open the door for the police. '' The evidence shows,'' said the Magistrate (Mr. E. Page, S.M.), .■"that smoking was going on, but apparently by one person only!" There appeared to him to be some doubt as to whether Wong Hong was smoking, and he. would dismiss all the charges against him The house, occupied by Low Leong, was fitted up obviously for no other purpose than for opium smoking. Low Leong was fined £50, in default three months' imprisonment, and was allowed one we«k to pay.