OPIUM SMOKER NABBED.

NZ Truth, Issue 250, 9 April 1910, Page 7

OPIUM SMOKER NABBED.

A Light Fine.

On tiie evening of Sunday, April 3, Detectives Mitchell and Thomson arrested a Chow named Ping Sing, m StaHordstrcet, Dunedin, and found on him about thiee-quarters of ah ounce of opium. On going to the premises of Sing, who lets rooms to other Celestials, two pipes, scales and other opium paraphernalia were, found. At the time of arrest there were two Chinese on the premises, and all the gear necessary for smoking opium was m evidence. Sing's money was impounded, and' it consisted chiefly of sixpences and threepences, which was construed by tbe wily sleuths of the detective department into .a suggestion that the small silver had been gathered by the sale of small of opium. ' ■'• ;When.; Sing appeared. 'at the Police Court on.'. Monday, before Magistrate Bartholomew,, he very calmly took . a seat on ttoe b.encl# reserved for ■ witnesses.' Being bidden to rest himself on his feet while being charged, he did so. The 'S.M. : Is this the defendant? dWr; A.. Cv Hanlon (defendant's counsel).: I think so. He loojss s very much like the. man ! who saw me this 1 morning with: an .interpreter; ..' Mr pßanlon went on' to say that Sing was a humble bottle-gatherer, who had. the opium habit, and who, • therefore smoked; opium whenever he could get it. He stressed the > point \ ibat no suggestion was made that Sing was trading m opium. , ,-■••■■.. c Chief-Detective Herbert insinuated the suggestion that the amount of opium ■ found couldn't be taken as an indication of the trade done. : He suggested that the keepers of opium shops knew .the danger ;af keeping big stocks of opium, and . ifeept; the ; ; stuff planted. and took it to tiieif" places of business m small .quantities. r . . A fine of £5 was ' imposed. •