CHINAMEN AND OPIUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13656, 27 July 1906, Page 7

CHINAMEN AND OPIUM.

A CHARGE DISMISSED. At the City Poiico Court yesterday, before Mr C. C. Graham. S.M.. a Chinaman named Ah Young was charged that on July 25 j. quantity of opium suitable for smoking was found in his .posecßJiion.—Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for accused, who pleaded "Not Biiilty." Station-sergeant King said the eliar«e was laid under the Act of 1901-3-snhsecHon 2 of section ]of tho Act of 1902. Defendant m » resident of Walker street, and the previous evening Acting-deteelivo M'Lood and Constable M'Holm had visited the promises Riid found 0, small quantity of opimn-about an mince-in tho accused's room. To be more exact, it was found in the pookqt of a vest in tho room, the article of clothing being claimed by accused as his own. Acting-detective M'Lcod gave evidence to Hum effect, and also as to finding two pipes under tha bed, one or which had been used. Cross-examined: A coat and vest were hanging on the wall. Witness asked defendant whose these wore before he searched, and ho was answered that they were accused's. Witness could understand what accused was saying, and accural could understand witness. Constable M'Holm said the door of the building was locked when he visited the place, but it was eventually opened. Several Chinamen were silting about the room, accused being on the bed. Accused admitted the clothes about the bed were his on being questioned. . Tim detcelivo found) a small horn lube containing tho opium in the pocket of a vest on Hie wall. Cross-examined: The opium and pipes were taken possession of, and Ah V'oung was arrested and taken away. Accused could speak a, little English, but was not a good speaker. A lot of the Chinamen would "pretend not to understand if. it suited them. There was another bed in the room. Witness believed that Ah Young paid tho rent of the place. Ah Choo was supposed to keep it, but witness was of opinion that accused was tho real proprietor. This was to mako the place safe for gambling' purposes, witness thought. To the Magistrate: Accused was attired the samo as he appeared in' court, except that ho had no boots on then. Ite had a coat and vest on. Mr Hanlon: That is all he has got. In opening defendant's case, Mr Hanlon said tho charge was laid under a. highly penal statute. This was one of the usual raids conductod by the police, and Hie accused happened to be sitting in a room in which this small quantity of opium was found. A .misunderstanding might easily arise. Defendant would deny emphatically that the coat and vest were his, or that lie said they were. Counsel pointed out a discrepancy in tho evidence tendered by flic police in regard to the clothes, the detective evidently referring to the bedclothes and the constable to the wearing apparel. A clear and undoubted case would liavo lo be made out, and this had not been done. Accused was not other than a boarder in the house. Defendant then entered tho witness box to give evidence on his own behalf. Sliition-soi'gcant lung objected to the interpreter (All Wong), as having been convicted of 0 similar offence. Mr Hanlon: Then it should bo a direction to the police that they provide an interpreter. The police should not bring a. case here without an interpreter. T wilt try to examine hiin. It will bj very funny, I call tell you. The Magistrate: But yon cannot .swear him! except through an interpreter. Tb''s left matters at a deadlock. The interpreter for the police was suggested. Mr Hanlon: He has been convicted of housebreaking. Chief-detcciive Herbert: Then how about Peter, the police cook? Mr Hanlon: Yes. he will do.' If he is good enough to cook for the police, ho is good enough to interpret for me. In duo time l'oter appeared smiling, and was proceeding to cultivate an undesirable acquaintance with Ah Wong, .when the station-sergeant hurriedly intervened. Ah Young, sworn in Chinese fashion, said his name was Worn: Zue. Station-sergeant King: He gave his name to us as Ah Young. Witness (continuing) said he was not in tho room when the police entered, but ho came in alter the detective. The room was his. The bed in the room belonged to Ah Choo, but the detective said it belonged to witness. The waistcoat did not belong to witness, and he did not tell the detective it did. Tho opium was not his either, and ho did not know it was in the room. Ah Choo paid the vent. There were nine other Chinamen living on the preinisos. : 'Cross-exsm-icd: He did not know to whom I the opium belonged. Witness had been working in the gardens two years ago, but thero was something wrong with his stomach, and he had not worked since. Witness had been once convicted of smoking opium. On tho Mill All Choo had given witness the keys because he (Ah Choo) wanted to go and see the pictures. The Magistrate said the evidence would not justify him in convicting. The testimony of the poiico had been somewhat vague as to what went on in the room, and it'was quiteevident that accused did not know liiueh English. Ho might easilv have said "Yes to any questions that we're put to him. Tho case would be dismissed. .