OPIUM FOUND ON CHINESE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 9

OPIUM FOUND ON CHINESE.

detectives Searched House When Investigating Another Charge. “THE ROOM WAS FULL OF SMOKE.” A NOTHER OPIUM CASE occupied the attention of the -A- Magistrate this morning. Yee King, a Chinese laundry ian, aged thirty-two years, residing at 41, Allen Street, was ned the minimum amount of £25 for being in possession of he drug in a prepared form. Yee King, who was also charged with obtaining credit by raud, asked to be given a chance to cure himself of the pracice of smoking opium. He said he had not smoked it for even or eight weeks and had been eating it to break off the abit. On the second charge, King was convicted and ordered o come up for sentence within twelve months if called on, and o make restitution of £5 19s to Frederick Whiley, a storeeeper.

E. D. Mosley, S.M., heard the case, ief-Detective Carroll prosecuted. Mr W. Wah, a Chinese law student at iterbury College, was the interpreter. The chief-detective said that in Oc>er last, King called on Whiley, a rekeeper, who did business with the inese. He obtained a suit of clothes credit. Some time later he went :k to Whiley and said he had a friend Papanui who wanted a suit and had nmissioned King to get it. At that le King gave the name of Yang Sang, 1 promised to bring the money, but did not come back. He said his :nds’ name was Ah Hong, but investiions showed that there was no such son. Smell of Opium. \cting-Detectives Herron and wards went to interview King at 41, en Street. There was a strong smell opium, and on going upstairs, where accused had preceded them to put his coat, a room occupied by him s found to be full of opium smoke. >ipe, still hot, was recovered, together h a lamp, which was still hot. The tectives made a search and found a all piece of prepared opium in one of ng's pockets. Vcting-Detective Herron amplified the tements of the chief-dectective. He d that on May 16, at 2.30 p.m., he and ting-Detective Edwards went to 41, en Street. These premises were aprently unoccupied, but accused used room upstairs. Putting Away Scales. They saw the accused there, and he nt upstairs. He was rather long in ning down, and the two of them went to the room. King was found in the

act of putting a pair of scales in a suitcase under the bed. Witness asked King if he had any opium, and King denied it. Opium, however, was found in his right-hand pocket. The two detectives made a search of the room and found a pipe, a lamp and a bottle. The bowl of the pipe and the bottle were both hot, and had recently been used. At the time King was quite well able to conduct a conversation in English. The Magistrate: He has forgotten it since. Simple English. The interpreter: The accused says that the detective spoke very simple Engilsh, and he could understand it. The interpreter added that King said he used the opium for eating. " A Perpetual Flame.” The acting-detective said that King’s story was that the previous occupant had left the opium pipe in the room. The interpreter: King says that only the bottle was hot. He says he used to save matches and keep it alight. The Magistrate: A sort of perpetual flame? The interpreter: No, for the purpose of lighting cigarettes and' the like. He says he has not smoked for from seven to eight weeks, but was eating it. He says it was necessary to cure himself of smoking. He wants a chance to cure himself. He will pay the money owing as soon as he gets -work. Evidence was also given relating to the second charge. The Magistrate (to the interpreter) : Tell him I cannot do otherwise than inflict the least penalty fixed by law.