THE POLICE RAID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17157, 2 May 1916, Page 2

THE POLICE RAID.

FIFTY CHINESE APPEAR IX

COURT.

FAN TAX IN A " COOK SHOP."

Seldom has the capacity of the Magistrate's Court been inadequate' for tho discharge of police business. Yesterday morning, however, even the cells, or ante-rooms into which the prison van discharges its inmates, were out of tho question. Indeed, nothing short of a pantechnicon would have accommodated the fifty prisoners that had been captured over-night in the raid on Chinese premises in Southwark Street. This great company, in fact, had to be marched round to the Court under escort, and mustered in the yard, whore a roll call took place. On seeing the large number Mr 11. W. Bishop, S.M., decided to hold the Court in the yard. Mr J. A. Cassidy appeared for tho Chinese. Mob On was charged that on April 30. being the occupier of premises in Southwark Street, ho did use the same as a common gaming house. Mr Cassidy said that the house

was a. " rook , shop," a kind of Chinese club whore a lot of Chinese congregated. 'ln ono room there wore a few men who. started a "small game" of fan-tan, playing first with Chinese tokens, and later for money. Only eight men played, and the others were scattered through the building. As fan-tan was going on, he had advised them all to plead guilty. i Sub-Inspector, Mullany said that gambling, had been going on for some time and a great many people frequented the bouse, which was recognised as a gambling place. A sum of £2fi las had been seized, on the table. " Is that a small game?" queried the Magistrate. • '•'Judged by Riccarton, it is a very small game," said Mr Cassidy. "T am not concerned with the ethics of the case," said Mr Bishop, "but only with the principle." Mob On was fined £25. Yee Li and Ah Pay, who pleaded guilty to assisting in the conduct of a common gaming bouse, wero each fined £lO.

' The others were each fined 40s and costs for being'found on the premises. The question of expenses, notably the engagement of taxi-cabs to convey the prisoners to the cells, was left over. The Chinese who were fined 40s each were Loui Pak, Kong Lee, Ah Wong, Yee Lan. Young Chew, Sung Ling, Ah Kee, Joe Lee, Ah., Sang, Ah Ch'ing. Chow Tay, Ah Tong. Wong Woo. Ah Gun, Young Shun, Yee Lee, Ju Chum. Ah fiing, Ah Kong, Ouong Say, Yee Sing, Charlie Moy, George Wairgh, Wong Yet, Tic Men, Too Sinsr. Ah Sing.- Kong Kee, Yee Yin. Dun Sin, Charlie Too Sing, Kong Lum. Yee Gee. Lay Hon, Wong Kin, Suey Wah, You Shan, Charlie Young. Chew Gin, Chow Gen, Ah Too, Loo Law, Bah Toi, Ah Woo, Ah Get. Gee Pay and Wong Lee. • The money sciV.ed was ordered to be returned to the banker, but not before the fines had been paid. As the Magistrate turned to go away, one of the men explained that he had not gambled. Ho had gone in to get his little dog, which had strayed on to the raided premises. "Go on," said the Magistrate. "It does not matter what you were there lor. You bad better take your gruel with the rest of them." A Chinese cook also came forward to protest that he had never gam-; bled.

"Never mind,'' said the Magistrate "You know they gambled there."