CHINESE FINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22718, 2 November 1935, Page 27

CHINESE FINED

OPIUM-SMOKING CHARGE DETECTIVES RAID PREMISES Early on Thursday evening two detectives visited premises in Stafford street, and in a small shed situated at the end of the garden they found a Chinese who had been smoking opium. He was Yee Poy, aged 38, who appeared before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, and was fined £l2 10s and costs on a charge of smoking prepared opium, to which he pleaded guilty. "Do you understand English?" asked the clerk of the court of Poy before reading the charge. The accused (unhesitatingly) : No. Chief Detective Young: He spi...ks good English, sir. I suggest that the charge be read to him. I think he will understand.

It was explained to the accused that should he require the services of an interpreter he would have to pay the fees if he were convicted.

The charge was read, and Poy pleaded guilty. Chief Detective Young said that at about 7 p.m. on Thursday Detectives Wells and Le Sueur visited premises in Stafford street. At the bottom of the garden was a small shed or hut which appeared to be used only for opium smoking. When the detectives entered the accused was in the act of rising from a plank which was used as a bed. The usual paraphernalia for smoking opium was lying about, and the pipe the accused had been smoking was still hot. Only a very small quantity of opium was found. "It is rather a pity to see a young man of this type taking to it," said the chief detective.

When asked by the magistrate what he did for a living the accused said he worked in a Chinese cook shop. He asked for four weeks to find the amount of the fine, but was given a week.