GAMBLING BANK RAIDED

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 13 October 1932, Page 8

GAMBLING BANK RAIDED

SUM OF £3l (SNATCHED

AUCKLAND DEN DISTURBED.

A sensational hold-up of a fan-tan bank in a Chinese gambling school in Auckland occurred on Sunday night, when, states the “Auckland Star, a countryman of the players grabbed £3l 12s from a. table, drew a daggei and backed out through a doorway to make off with the money. He told the others what he wanted the money for. •Between 20 and 30 Chinese were either seated at or round a table playing fan-tan. The game is played with beans which are taken from a bowl with a scoop and emptied upon the table. From the heap on the table four beans are taken at a time until there are four or less beans remaining, and these decide- all bets. A player must be “on” either one, two, three or four The started off with about £SO and play had been going some time, with luck against the bank. At 8.55 p.m. there was on the board alongside the banker the sum of £3l 12s. At his right was the '“clerk” who was keeping the book and looking attei the interests of the shareholders of the bank. Among those looking on was a 'Chinese ivho through circumstances partly beyond his control was required to find a considerable sum of money within a specific time. While the croupier 'was raking away the beans from the heap this spectator suddenly leaned over and grabbed the money. At once there was an excited jabbering among the players, and all jumped to their feet; but the thief drew a dagger, which had the effect of causing any who felt like tackling; him to hesitate. With the dagger in one hand and the £3l 12s in the other, he backed through the doorway and disappeared outside. Another man, who was standing outside the* door of the den, also disappeared. .Some of the Chinamen suggested reporting the hold-up to the police, but the majority decided not to take the matter outside their own circle.

This is the second occasion that a bank has been held up in a Chinese gambling school. Some years ago a thief snatched over £BO, and got away with it.