CHINESE " SPORTS"

NZ Truth, Issue 568, 6 May 1916, Page 12

CHINESE " SPORTS "

A flutter at "Fan-tan" " John Hops "and John Chinaman Raid on a Gambling "Joint." (From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) There was a corner In China at Christchurch last Sunday, when eight "John Hops," under the banner of Sergt Clarkson, raided a "Chovrnoso" gaming caboodle In smeUful Southwark-street. Ordinarily, the saflron-linod heathen pumped it into the public that tie "joint" where they congregated and j swapped chunks of ''Chow" lingo, was a | select social hall and hashhouse, where "scran" conveying recollections of China and the combined odors of Bromley was served up at a humble "DEENER" PER FILL. The local police, however, tumbled to It long ago that the "Chows" were drawn, to the place by a 'purpose somewhat j similar to that which causes the civilised whites to plank half -soys.- on "stiff unsVgfper medium of the duly-legalised "totei*' The police had sat tight on their •■knowledge until last Sunday. Frpmtdaylight until well on towards Monday morning this rain poured incessantly and drove the "Chows" their .cabbage patches In all parts of Christchurch to the **Chop suey** offering at Southwark-street. Consequently, it was an odds-on chance thati* the police, by surroundinff the "joint," 1:ould bag pretty well the whole of the MChowneoe" population of Christchurch m a single cast When the reps, of the law poked their nose into the show about 8.3d on Sunday night, there was an attendance of 60 "Mongs," In one room "fan-tan" wap m full swing, with a pool of £27 on the table. None of the "Chows" resisted arrest, and the whole crowd were buzzed along m taxis to the police station, where they put m the night and had a good breakfast on Monday morning. The lock-up waa pretty well taxed to Its utmost, but, nevertheless, there was room enough to lodge old "Biddy" Diggs and some more common drunks to represent the ordinary population at court next day. , .y About 10.30 on Monday morning, the "Chow" contingent wore formed Into line and marched . . ■ > IN A SMELLFUL PROCESSION to the court; where they were received by Lawyer Cassidy, counsel for the whole half century. The atmosphere m the court house, was still tresh and It was decided to assemble the prisoners out m the yard and hear the charges there. ■ •-, : .-, .• ■ ; .. . ;.„•; ; Lawyer Cassidy said that * China would plead guilty, "The place of the raid, he said, was a sort of a cook-chop, where the "Chinks'* from an parts of the district put m their Sundays. Thero were about sixty at the place on the day of the raid, and It seemed to bo regarded by them as something In the form of a Chinese club. Yeo Si and Ah Pay had a gome of "fan- tan" going m one room, although the owner of the joint was not m the room and only eight were playing the game; The "Chows? were then all charged. Man On was charged with being the occupier of premises which he permitted to be used as a common gaming house. Yeo Li and Ah Pay were charged with assisting to conduct the same caboodle. - , £>üb-Inspector MuUany enid tlie place was recognised as a gambling house and frequently there wero large numbers of Chinese there. Man On was fined £25, and his two assistants were each ordered to disgorge a "tenner." . The Clerk of the Court then proceeded to charge the rest of the crowd with being found on the premises. In several short spasms ho conghed through the following list: Loui Pak, Kong Lea, Ah Wong, Yee Lan, Young Chow, Sung. «i nff » 4J? Kee> J *x> Leo. Ah Sang, Ah Chlng. Chow Tay, Ah Tong. Wong Woo, Ah Gun, Young Shun. Yee Lea, Ju Chum Ah Lln S , Ah Kong, Quong Say, Yee Sins, Charlie Moy, Goorge Waugh, Wong Yet, Tie Mon, Too Sing, Ah Sing. Kong Kee, Yee Yip, Dun Sin, Charlie Too Sing, Kong Lum, Yee Gee, Lay Hon; Wong Kin, Suey Wah, You Shan Charlie Young, Chow Gin. Chow Gen, Ah Too, Loo Law, Bah Toi, Ah Woo, Ah Got, Jay Pay and Wong Lee. ' Each of the bundle were fined 40/---and coats. • ,„ . Mr. Cassidy requested that the MONEY FOUND ON THE TABLE should bo returned to its ownerr, one of | the chaps who had been fined a "tenner." The order was made accordingly. All the "Chows" reckoned they would pay their fines, and tho Stato consolidated will, m consequence, be £130 richer as tl» result of the raid.