OPIUM SMOKING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8305, 8 June 1907, Page 5

OPIUM SMOKING.

FOUR CELESTIALS CONVICTED

I A batch of five Chinamen, by name j William Tie, Ling Hang Chang, Ah Sue, Ah Quong, and Ah Lung, appeared before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., at the Courthouse this morning, as the result of the police raid on a house in Alexandra Street on the evening of May 29th last. The men were represented by Mr Moore. Tie, the occupier of the house, pleaded guilty to a charge of permitting opium smoking on his premises, and also to one of naving indulged himself. Ah Lung acknowledged a charge of having smoked the drug, but the other three all pleaded not guilty. Mr Loughnan, Crown Solicitor, conducted the cases on behalf of the police. Evidence given by Detective Quirke and Constable Connor was to the effect that, about nine o'clock on the night in question, they visited Tie's house in Alexandra Street, and endeavoured* to enter. Both doors were locked, and a dog chained up close to the one at the rear. Finally they forced the latter, and, on entering the back room, found the five accused there. Two were lying on the floor smoking, and the other three were standing up. A goodly, ;array of lamps, pipes, and other gear" (produced in Court), were taken charge of. When summonses were served on the men the next morning, two of them admitted having smoked opium, but the others denied it. I

After the evidence had been taken, Mr Moore contended that being found in the room was not itself sufficient to Warrant a conviction. There was no doubt that two had been smoking, but in the other cases the evidence was not enough. The S.M. said the only case he would dismiss was that against Chang, the other men must be convicted. For permitting smoking in his house, Tie was fined £5, with costs totalling £4 12s 6d. For smoking, fines of £1, plus costs 3s 3d, were imposed on Tie. Sue, Quong, and Lung. Similar cases brought oy the Collector of Customs against the same accused were withdrawn.