"A SMALL GAME."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11686, 1 May 1916, Page 5

"A SMALL GAME."

+„ BUT NOTHING TO RICCARTON FIFTY CELESTIALS IN COURT. FAN TAX IN A "COOK HOUSE." Seldom has the capacity of the Magistrate's Court been inadequate for the discharge of police business. This morning even the cells, or ante-rooms into which the Black Mark discharges her burthen, were out of tho question. Indeed; nothing short of a pantechnicon would have accommodated the press of prisoners that had been captured overnight) in tho raid on Chinese premise in Southwark Street. This great company, in fact, had to be marched round to the Court under escort, and mustered in the yard, where a roll call took place, and sundry idlers came out to gaze on them. There wero fifty Chinese, very impassive, and they lined up against the iron fence and fawned themselves. When they con/Versed there was a sound like humble bees in a field of red clover. In solemn conclave in the corner, apart from the rank and file, stood Mr J. A. Cassidy and three Celestials, concerned with* the details of the pleadings. ' An officer walked about half distraught with a list of Chinese names, which he pronounced in what was probablv pidgin-Chinese. Oil this scene Mr H. Wr Bishop. S.M., aimc to gaze, and promptly decided to hold an al fresco Court forthwith.

At this stage Mr Cassidy detached a venerable client from the conference, with instructions to "tell them why.' It turned out that he was to tell them whv it had been agreed that they should plead guilty. He passed along the. ranks and gurgled at his countrymen, who accepted the decision of tho leaders caucus. There was then a. mil for Moh On, and a man came forward and stood before the Magistrate, to be charged that on April 30. being the occupier of premises in Southwark Street, he did use the same as a common gaming house. Mr Cassidy. who appeared for Moh On and all 'the others, said that tho house was a " cook shop,'' a kind of Chinese club where a lof, of Chinese congregated. In one room there were a few" men who started a " KmaTl game" of fan-tan, playing first with' Chinese tokens, and later for money. Only eight,men played, and the others were scattered through the building. As fan-tan was going on, he had advised them all to plead guilty. Sub-Inspector Mullany said that gambling had been going on for some time and a great many people frequented tho house, which was recognised as n gambling place. A sum of £2O los had been seized on the table.

<; Is that. a. small game?" queried the Magistrate.

"Judged by Riccarton, it is a, very small game." said. Mr Cassidy. "t am not concerned with the ethics of the case/' said Mr Bishop, "but onlv with the principle." Mob On was fined £2.5.

f Yee Li and AJi Pay, who pleaded guilty to assisting in the conduct of a common gaming house, were, each fined £lO. The others were each fined 40s and costs for being found on the premises. The question of expenses, notably the engagement of taxi-cabs to convey the ' prisoners to the cells, was left over. The Chinese who were fined 40s each were Loiii Pak, Kong Lee, Ah Wong, Yeo Lan, Young Chew, Sung Ling, Ah Kee, Joe L<?e, Ah Sang, Ah Chine. Chow Tar. Ah Tong. Wong Woo, Ah Gun, Young Shun, Yee Le.e, Jit Chum. Ah Ling. Ah Kong, Quong Say. Yee Sing, Charlie Moy, George Waugh. Wong Yet. Tie Mou, Too Sing. Ah Sing. Kong Keo. Yee Yin. Dun Sin, Charlie Too Ping, Kong Lura. Yee Gee. Lay Hon, Woutr Kin, Suey Wah, You Shan, Charlie Young. Chew Gin. Chow Gen, Ah Too, Loo Law, Bah Toi, Ah Woo, Ah Get. Geo Pay and Wong Lee. The money seized was ordered to be returned to the banker, but not before the fines had been paid. I As the Magistrate turned to go away. I one of the crowd, a young man of I Hebrew rather than Chinese linea- | ments, came forward and explained I that he had not gambled. He had gone [ia to get his little dog, which had j strayed on to the'raided premises. "Go on," said the Magistrate. "It [ does not matter what you were there i for. You had better take your ,grue? with the rest of thorn." ! The burly Chinese cook also came for--1 ward to protest that he had never gambled. I " Never mind." said the Magistrate i ''You know they gambled there"