CHINAMAN'S LUCK

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 82, 4 February 1928, Page 6

CHINAMAN'S LUCK

POLICE IN A QUANDARY. Per Press Association. WANOAjN Ui, February 3. An amusing; situation arose in the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, when Yep Poy was brought before the Court in connection with a charge of having in his possession opium) in a’ form for smoking. Detective Walsh pointed out that this class' of offence used to bo dealt with Under section 5 of the Opium Act, 19)08. The Dangerous ; Drugs Act of 1927 cable into force on Jam I uary 1 of this year and repealed the j

Opium Act of 1908 and 1910. Tu> alleged offence came under part 2, section 8. of the new Act. The Act made it compulsory that the information be laid by a medical officer or health. Wanganui had no medical officer of health,’ and the nearest was in Wellington, so an urgent telegram had had to be sent to Him to lay the information. Another difficulty the police' were up against was that ip the event of tlie information not being forthcoming they could not hold the Chinafoam according to the Act. more than! 1 48 hours, and that meant that an | adjournment would have to"gf-anted until Sunday, I The Magistrate (Mr Barton) ro-i marked that it was oriel of the combination of circumstances that give nse to( the expression “the luck of a Chinaman." The police were in a quandary and did hOt know.' what to 1 do. The Magistrate said that lie was aveif.se to. sitting on Saturday I idler noons. | Detective Walsh said lie did l not know what the position was in regard to .the Court sitting on Sunday, and j Cohen, who appeared for the Chinaman, i ontarked that some years ago he knew a jury in Wanganui return i a verdict at 2 o’clock on Sunday < morning. ■ - < ■ j ( , It wks then decided to remand the Chinaman until noon on Saturday. If < the information doefe not come to 1 hand the case will then have to he 1