PACKAPOO PLAYERS.

PACKAPOO PLAYERS.

CHINESE GAMBLERS ARRESTED RESULT OF POLICE RAID. GREY STREET GAMING. HOUSE. As a result of a police raid on a house in Grey Street on Saturday night a number of Chinamen were charged at the Police Court this morning, before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., with having been found on premises conducted as a common gaming house. An additional charge of being the occupier of a common gaming house was brought against one of the Chinamen, Ah Yuan. Of the others, Hen Toy, Chin Ling, and Charlie Gin, did not appear, Tin Lee, Charlie Chee, Fong Fook, Len Young, Yee Chin Wah, Low King, and Ah Lee pleaded "Guilty," and Hong Chee, Sing Kit, and Ah Duk, pleaded "Not guilty." The raid was made at about half-past ten on Saturday night by Sub-Inspector Wohlman, Senior-Sergeant McNamara, and six constables. The .shop raided was one of three comprising a twostorey brick building, fronting Grey Street, and adjoining the Market Hotel. he raided sbop (No. 29) was ostensibly conducted as a restaurant for Chinese under the sign of "The Savoy." The raiding party approached the premises from both rear and front, but just as the time for making an entry arrived, a signal was given by a "Chinaman who came out of an adjoining building, with the result that those inside rushed the doors, and the light was turned off inside as the police entered. Several of the Chinamen escaped through the neighbouring properties, but most of them were caught and driven back into the house. In the basement of the building, below the street level, all the paraphernalia peculiar to Chinese games of chance were found, including the banker's lead plate, stacks of' Chinese coins, the pointed sticks used for lifting the perforated Chinese coins, dominoes of the Chinese variety with which haing gow is played, Chinese and European playing cards, and materials used in playing fan tan. Each of the Chinamen was .searched, and a sum of about £150 was collected from them. All "the Chinese concerned were taken to the police station in motor cars to be charged before Dr. F. W. King, J.P., and bail being forthcoming in each case in the sum of £5, they were "all remanded until this morning. Sub-Inspector Wohlmann pointed out that gambling 'was very demoralising where Chinamen were concerned, and the better class Chinese were opposed to it. He said that poor Chinamen who arrived in New Zealand lost their money and-were then exploited by the wealthier Chinamen, who compelled .their -victims to work for losb than'the market wage. The premises concerned had been under observation for a considerable time, and gambling had been noticed on a number of occasions, Chinamen to the number of about thirty having been present at one time. Ah Yuan, who was charged with being the occupier of the premises, pleaded guilty, and was fined £100 and costs. Sin Kit said he went to the shop to buy some duck, and was speaking' to the cook when the police arrived. He was given the benefit of the doubt and discharged. Hong Chee, who was found in an outhouse, and denied having had anything to do with the gambling, admitted 1 however, that he had £50 in his possession, together with some pakapoo tickets. He was fined £5 and costs, the extra £1 being imposed because he did not tell the truth. Ah Duk 6aid he was assistant cook, and was on the premises just to clean up dishes. He had no money to gamble' witli;. He had been observed by the police earlier in the evening, however, playing a- species of gambling patience, and when the raid was made he was discovered behind a door with his hand over his face. He was convicted and fined £4. and costs 12/. A similar fine was-imposed on the accused who had pleaded guilty and on those who did not appear, or in default 21 days' imprisonment. Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 83, 8 April 1918, Page 6