GAMING HOUSES RAIDED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 11

GAMING HOUSES RAIDED.

SUBSTANTIAL TINES.

MENACE OF CHINESE “SPIELERS.”

WELLINGTON, October 20.

According to Inspector Hendry pakapoo is run in Wellington as a lucrative commercial proposition by “ white-gloved” principals, who are astute enough to put themselves beyond the clutches of the law. When an invading force of police casts a judicial net over the precincts of Haining street sacred to pakapoo playing onlysmall fish are caught in its meshes and the big fish—the ■'sharks” who feast upon the illicit earnings of the “banks”—are never captured. Wellington’s “Chinatown” was recently raided by the police, and as a sequel nine persons appeared in court today before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M. Four Chinese —Lee King, Kat Lee, Ah Wong, and Ah Young—were charged with being occupiers of common gaming houses in Haining street, while the remainder af the accused—all Europeans—-were charged that they had been found on the promises.

“ These men are of good characters and are not professionals at the game,”' remarked Mr Watson in entering a plea of guilty on behalf of the Oriental quartet. “ They have,’’ he added, “ hitherto been good citizens, and have gone in for this business not quite knowing what they were taking on. Detective Cassells is willing to give evidence as to their good characters.” Detective Cassells, entered the witness box and deposed that he knew the four accused. They were all decent, quiet men, and were simply the agents for tho principals of the “ banks.” The latter gentry took no risk, and the burden of arrest and punishment fell on the agents, who received a premium for each ticket sold.

It was explained by Mr Watson that the accused had not been in employment for a month or so prior 'to their appoint-' meat as agents o{ the banks.

Inspector Hendry likened the pakapoo syndicate to an octopus with tentacles stretched out all over Te Aro. It was run by a band of men who could only be described as Chinese “spielers.’" Nearly every house in Haining street was occupied by agents of the “ trust,” and was the resort not only of Chinese, but Europeans. A sad feature, as was instanced by the cases that day, was that many of the Europeans frequenting these dens were lutle more than boys. As to the- plea for leniency, Inspector Hendry remarked that not long ago a number of men were brought before bis Worship charged with keeping similar gaming houses. The conviction of offenders did not check the evil The “ banks ” were making huge profits. As many as eight “ banks” were drawn in one day, and there were from 20 to 30 agents established in the business. There was no test as to whether the drawing was fair. Stupid people were drawn there in the hope that they would get something for nothing. The principals of the hanks wera no more than “ spielers,’’ and were a cursu to their own countrymen as well as tp the whole community.

After -warning them that they were liable to a penalty of £IOO, with a heavy alternative, the magistrate fined each accused £2O, with the option of one month's imprisonment k When Mr Watson asked for time to enable the accused to find the money, Inspector Hendry remarked: “They are in the pay of a very wealthy principal. Perhaps he might enter into a bond.” \

The Magistrate gave the Chinese 24 hours to find the money. The five Europeans were fined 40s, with 7s costs, each, in default seven days in gaol. ANOTHER RAID. FOUR MEN ARRESTED. WELLINGTON, October 20, After keeping it under surveillance for a week the police descended suddenly on a dwelling at the corner of Taranaki and Frederick streets at 7.15 to-night, and arrested occupier—a Chinaman named Wong Joe—on a charge of keeping a common gaming house. Three European young men, who were also found on the premises, wore taken into custody on that

charge. The raid was carried out by Detective-* sergeant Cassells aod Senior Sergeant Dew. The Detective-sergeant entered the house by the front door, and at the same instant the Senior Sergeant stepped through the back entrance, both doors then being locked while the house was searched. In addition to the occupier and the three visitors the police secured a quantity of pakapoo apparatus. By this time a big crowd had gathered - in tho streets by the house, but the police got their captives out by the back way and into a waiting cab without any trouble. The four accused were immediately charged before a justice of the peace at tho Mount Cook Police Court, and * were liberated on bail until to-morrow morning, when they will appear at the Magistrate’s Court. The house was very close to those which were raided by the police on Sunday week, the occupiers of which were before the court to-day.