AN OPIUM RAID

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19767, 15 February 1927, Page 8

AN OPIUM RAID

GUYTON STREET EPISODE CINDERELLA AND CHINESE DETECTIVES’ MIDNIGHT VISIT ' Visitors to tho Wanganui Magifltmtu’s Court yesterday were greeted [with u real Eastern atmosphere. A number of men from the East were present in the back of the Court, probably to lend moral support to a countryman who had been caught with the whole box and dice of an opium smoker’s outfit. The gentle intonations of the language of tne followers of Confucius could occasionally be heard aboye the blatant humdrum of by-law cases. Also in the back of the Court sat two young women, both smartly dressed. The cause of a rather cosmopolitan gathering before Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., was the general activity of the detective branch of the local Police Force about midnight, on Sunday last. Detectives J. Wiaish and L. Revell, who have already brought off clever coups in the city, acting on information mysteriously gleaned, took a quiet stroll round to Guyton Street and visited the premises of Willie Gee, a laundry proprietor. Everything was dark and silent, so the detectives called at the back door of Gee’s establishment and politely demanded admission. There was a scurry inside; and voices of Celestials rose in raucous discord. After a few minutes delay the door was opened. A Modern Cinderella The representatives of law and order walked into a back room and found a rice and straw mat spread upon the floor, and standing on the mat was a llamp and the gear so necessary for the opium smoker. Also on the mat were a pair of woman’s shoes. The woman had fled at the hour of midnight in much the same way as the original Cinderella disappeared. Willie, who runs the laundry in conjunction with his brother, Jackie Gee, was immediately taxed with the sin. of smoking opium, but he denied the of.i’ence in his bland Chinese way. However, he was later caught attempting to hide cooked opium, and his pockets were turned out, disclosing another tin of the poppy juice in a state fit for smoking. Willie Gee was haled before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was i charged with being in possession of opium fit for smoking. He pleaded guilty to the offence. He was represented by Mr F. F. Wills. Detective Walsh, who conducted the prosecution, stated that the case was a serious one, as white women were implicated. He asked for the maximum penalty of £5O. A fine of £3O and costs was inflicted. THE SEQUEL HABITUES OF CHINESE DENS Lily Ryan, a well dressed woman of mature age, and Gladys Smith, an attractive person of 22 years, appeared to answer a charge of being idle and disorderly persons with insufficient lawful means of support. Both pleaded guilty.

Detective Walsh stated that although he had not acted like the Prince to .Cinderella, he was positive that the shoes belonged to one of the young women. When he entered Willie Gee’s laundry he found a good deal of raiment lying about the opium room la company with Detective Revell he had arrested the two accused during the early hours of the morning. The detective had very little to say in favour of Lily Ryan. She was a married woman whose husband belonged to the criminal class. She had been travelling to and from Wanganui awl for some time, and had been living with Chinese. Unfortunate Young Woman To his knowledge. Gladys Smith had not been before the Court previously. She was only 22 years of age, and had been married some twelve months. Her husband was supposed to be away building a home for her. She had been seen around the town at intervals during the last three or four months. Smith was quite possibly being led astray by Ryan. Ryan asked the Magistrate to give her a chance so that she could get in touch with friends at Levin. The Magistrate: One month’s imprisonment in Wanganui Gaol, sentence to be deferred until the police find out about the people in Levin. Smith was remanded for sentence till Thursdav.