PAK-A-POO

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6924, 16 September 1909, Page 3

PAK-A-POO

TICKETS SOLD IN HAINING STKLUT. TWO CHINESE HEAVILY FINED. Mr W r . G. Riddell, S.M., was engaged yesterday in the hearing of several ca6es in which Chinese were charged with having sold pak-a-poo tickets. The defendants were JoeLum, alias Joe Lim, and Wong Lee, alias Tin Lee. Against each of them there were two charges, on© of selling a lottery ticket to Bruce Thompson, and one of selling a similar ticket to Thomas Kelly. Mr A. L. Herdman appeared on beliall of the accused, and pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Norwood said that he wi«hed to withdraw one of the charges against each of tho accused. Constable Kelly and Probationer Thompson had gone together to the accuseds' place, and each had bought a ticket, so that the accused had practically committed only one offence. His Worship consented to the withdrawal of one of the charges agamet each of the accused. . Sub-Inspector Norwood said that the police officers had gone to the accuseds place in llaining street on September !>th, and had no difficulty in obtaining pak-a-poo tickets. Tho house was practically empty, and there were about it no means of making a living except by the conduct of pak-a-poo. Mr Herdman said the police would have some considerable trouble in proving that the accused "Wong Lee had been previously convicted. They had possibly confused him with someone else. Counsel asked that his Worship should not inflict a fine which would render it necessary for the accused to go to gaol. The offenco of which they had been guilty was not a bad nor an immoral one, and did not havo nearly such a bad effect as had the playing of "two-tip m a , public place, or the establishment of a Tattersall's sweep, tho ramifications ot , which extended all over the Dominion. And yet for these offences Europeans . were fined only £i>. Why should Chinese I be treated ditferently and heavily fined ! for conduoting a game which was confined practically to their own people.'' | His Worship said he could not make j any difference between this case and , similar ones which had been before the | Court on previous occasions. Tho accused would each bo fined ,£2">, with j costs £1 Bs, in default one month's in;-1 prisomnent. Neither of the accused was . able to pay the fine.