GAMBLING MANIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17343, 16 July 1924, Page 7

GAMBLING MANIA.

CHARLIE TONG’S LAPSE. The crime of Charlie Tong, alias N. Kuir T**ng, in committing fo:*gevy, was ascribed to a mania for gambling, when Tong came up for sentence today. He wa3 defended by Air White, who said that Tong was only twenty-one years of age, and had got into a gambling school in which he spent all the money he had taken wrongfully, except payment for board and lodging. His parents lived in Sydney. He had had a good character jup to the present time- Air Percy Wong, a fruiterer in George Street, Dunedin, had agreed to employ Tong at £2 a week and his keep, if probation was granted. Air Justice Adams. What about his gambling mania? Air White: It might be somewhat difficult to eradicate that. A Christchurch resident said that Air Percy "Wong was a very religious man. and would supervise Tong’s conduct. His Honor said that if Tong was a European or a native of New Zealand ho would be admitted to probation, and the fact that lie was a- Chinese should not make probation impossible. He would bo admitted to probation for two years, on condition that ho abstained from gambling for that term, immediately accepted Air* Wong’s offer, made restitution, and paid the costs of tho prosecution.