AN ALLEGED OPIUM DEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8754, 19 December 1908, Page 5

AN ALLEGED OPIUM DEN.

[ RAIDED.BY THE, POLICE. ; 1 DETECTIVE THREATENED WITH' A TOMAHAWK. Last night at about 3.30 o'clock Detec-. tive Quirke and Constable Barry made a, raid on a house situated between the Courthouse and the Empire Hotel in Main-st., where it was suspected that opium smoking was being-- carried on. The night .was dark and overcast and eminently suited to the purpose. Arrived opposite the building, which is some distance back. from the street, a stealthy approach was made to the front door. This was found to be securely locked, , but a murmur of voices apprised the visitors ,of the fact that there were celestials inside. A detour was made round the side of the house to the back door, which was also found to be fastened. A brief survey convinced the detective that there were no windows by whiclj an -entrance could be effected. Suddenly the door of a small building close to the house was heard to open and a Chinaman emerged carrying a lighted candle. The- light from this was not sufficiently strong to allow him to see any distance ahead and he to see the dark figures of the detective and constable crouched _in a corner against the back door until he -was right opposite them and then it was too late. He walked .right into the arms of Detective Quirke: Ho was naturally surprised and uttered a sh.arp exclamation. No time was allowed him, however, in which to make any further noise. He was handed over to -the tender mercies of Constable Barry, who escorted him to the rear. Meantime, Detective Quirke again turned his attention to the door. It was apparently' latched on the inside and presented some difficulty, as to open it by force would alarm the inmates. A search was made for a piece of wire which was soon discovered and the end inserted in a hole 'in the door opposite thp fastening. With very little difficulty the detective found he was. able to lift the latch and open the door which fortunately did not creak. He made a rapid and stealthy entrance and "discovered a door partly open on the left leading into a small room. The figure of a celestial • appeared suddenly in the doorway, but the detective was there at the same time and forced his past him into the room.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Inside there reclined three children of the East, on, benches or rough couches raised about a foot from the ground. Two sets of smoking apparatus stood conveniently near and one of the celestials was manipulating a dark sticky 3ubstance, which was distinguishable at a glance as opium, with considerable dexterity.. The slush lamp that is used in the process burned dimly alongside while in his disengaged hand he held a pipe, into which he was preparing to insert the insidious drug. The two other occupants of the room were smoking tobacco, and none, appeared to be alarmed to any great extent. After a few quick unintelligble words they a stolid calm, whether real or assumed it is difficult to say. The one with the opium pipe, who gave his name as Lee Ping, continued to manipulate the opium as though he contemplated . finishing his smoke. After Detective Quirke had effected an entrance to this room .and seen that opium was being smoked, he and Constable Barry, who had in the meantime entered the building, hurried up a passage-way towards the front and in a room on the right found two more Chinamen and the usual paraphernalia incidental to opium smoking, which had evidently been in use. Several others ■made their appearance in the passage and talked and gesticulated excitedly. Of the two in the room one, who was adjacent .to the pipe and slush lamp, gave his name as Jim Lee and will be charged in due course. Lee Ping was found to have a considerable quantity of opium in his possession and will also be charged before the Magistrate. After a rapid but diligent search the paraphernalia was confiscated and carried to the police station and will be used as evidence when the.two accused appear in

Court: ~ ANOTHER HOUSE VISITED. The night was still young and it was decided to pay a visit to a building in Cuba-st., where it was suspected that opium smoking was carried on. In this case there was no difficulty in effecting an entrance, the front door was wide open. The detective and constable hurried through to the back and there were confronted by two celestials who evidently resented the intrusion. The one spoke loudly and rapidly in his native language and if looks could have killed there would have been a death or two to record. Occasionally he snapped out the query "Wha for?" The other Chinaman did not say so much but he was evidently a man of action. He snatched up a tomahawk and a sharp pointed file and stood near the entrance to the room, a fierce threatening figure. Detective Quirke ordered him peremptorily to throw his weapons down. Ho refused to do so at first,"l>ut on the order being repeated threw them on a bench alongside. The detective made a spring for them, but the Chinaman was too quick for him and again seized his dangerous looking weapons. He sprang back a pace and fiercely confronted the detective. Detective Quirke seized a convenient chair and for a few brief seconds it looked as though things were going to be interesting. Nothing occurred however". The detective happened to have his attention distracted for a moment by the other celestial and the man with the weapons beat a hurried retreat through the back door and fled. A hasty glance round the room sufficed to show there was no trace of opium smoking. Thus "ended a somewhat exciting night.