CHINESE SHOP RAIDED

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1931, Page 11

CHINESE SHOP RAIDED

PAKAPOO AT WELLINGTON. KEEPER AND OTHERS FINED. Police officers raided a shop at 180, Taranaki Street, Wellington, on Friday evening and found six Europeans and three Chinese sitting round a table with pakapoo tickets and markers in front of them. All the men were arrested. At the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday Mr. T. B. McNeill, S.M., fined Ah Wong, the keeper of the place, £3O, in default two months’ imprisonment, and his assistant, Ah Fong, £25, in default six weeks’ imprisonment. Sub-Inspector Lopdell said he did not know what the relation was between the accused and the pakapoo bankers, .but ho thought it was probable that they would find the money. The magistrate accordingly granted them one week in which to pay. The Europeans were each fined £l. Mr. Lopdell said the house was open day and night, and as a rule there were two Chinese there selling tickets. A constable had called at the house on several occasions and had bought tickets. He was not known to the Chinese, of course. Joo Lum, gardener, aged 44, who was also charged with being found in a common gaming house, was represented by counsel, who pleaded guilty on his behalf, but told the magistrate that accused had gone to the house for a friend, Ah Chop, in order to give him a bank draft. Ah Chop was not there, however, and Lum was caught. This explanation was borne out by the fact that a draft had been found in his possession when lie was arrested. The sub-inspcctor said that Lum appeared to be acting as a runner between tho banker and his agents. The magistrate did not think the explanation was sufficient excuse and inflicted a fine of £l. Referring to the charge against Ah Wong counsel said the case differed from those in other centres where doors and windows had been barred. In this instance tho police had had no difficulty, whatever in gaining entrance. Senior-Sergeant Scott said that when the place was raided under warrant at 7.30 p.m. Ah Wong was sitting down at tho table with a small brush used to mark Chinese characters on the tickets in his hand. When questioned Ah Wonj, had admitted that he was the keeper of the house and said Fong was his assistant. Fong did not deny this statement. No fuss, no bother—-and guaranteed perfect results. NORTON’S famous Egg Preservative. Your grocer warmly recommends NORTON’S. Paste or Liquid.