CRAVING FOR OPIUM

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 7

CRAVING FOR OPIUM

CHINESE ESCAPED FROM GAOL. CONSIDERATION BY MAGISTRATE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, Last Night. The possibility that the accused man’s craving for opium might have been one of the principal reasons for his escape from the Napier gaol was taken into consideration by R. ‘M. Watson, S.M., in fixing the penalty for Yee Kee Hing, a 30-year-old Chinese who was brought before the Napier Magistrate’s Court this morning and charged with escaping from lawful custody. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment to follow the expiry of the term which he had commenced to serve at the time of his escape.

Hing, who was arrested at Palmerston North after nearly five weeks’ freedom, was brought to Napier last night. He pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before the magistrate this morning.

Hing was before the court on August 22 last on two charges connected with opium smoking, said Senior-Sergeant W. Pender. He had been fined £25 9s on each charge, defaul* beipg fixed at two months’ imprisonment. Hing could not find the money and went to the Napier gaol, where he was put to work in the garden. On August 31 during the temporary absence of the gaoler he escaped from the garden.