THE FAN TAN MEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1445, 21 May 1912, Page 6

THE FAN TAN MEN.

AUCKLAND RAID. THJRTV-KIGHT I'LEAD GUILTY. (By Tclser.i.ph-Prcss Association.! Auckland, Mav 20. As a sequel to the mid bv the'police on Ihe night of April 12 on Chinese pTO . misos in Wakefield .Street, 3S Chines maiic Hieir appearance before 11 r. Cut!en, S.M.. at the Police Court to-day. This; Hing was charged with bring the occupier nf premises u«ed as a common gaming house, and .lim AVong and All ].ee were also adjudged principals, inasmuch, as they assisted in the mnnagcii|c»t of the premises. The remaining 35 were charged with being found in a common gaming house. .The three principals, who were defended by Mr. A. E. .Skelton, entered a plea of "Xot. guilty."

Sub-Inspector . Hendry said that there was' no doubt but that the premises were primarily conducted for the 'purpose nf gnnibling. They were rented by Ting Hiug, who acted as keeper, and were a favourite resort every week-end for Chinose in and around Auckland. As n result of information received, the place had been kept under observation, and the recent raid was the sequel to surveillance by the police.

Detective Cox stated that he had visited the premises in question on three occa-sious, and on each occasion numbers of Chinese were engaged playing cards, dominoes, and fan tan. They were invariably playing for money. He

saw the winners paid by the banker, and abo saw the banker scoop in the money of the losers.

Sergeants Ferguson and Bird, who were, in charge of the police party detailed for the raid, gave similar evidence. Both had known the premises to be a Raining house pure and simple for the last three and a half years. Both were thoroughly acquainted with Chinese games, and understood both fan tan and the methods adopted in pnknpoo lotteries. They then detailed the .story of the raid on the premises, and the discovery of Chinese playing fan tan and other games. A large number of used and unused pnkapoo tickets were also discovered, and the whole of tho requisites found by the police proved conclusively that the place was a common gaming house. At the conclusion of the evidence against accused, Mr. Skelton, _who appeared for the principals, 'said that ho had no alternative but to substitute a plea of "Guilty" for his previous plea of "Xot guilty." His Worship then proceeded to deal with the remaining 35, intimating that he would impose sentence upon the principals at the conclusion of the hearing of the charge against the others. Twenty of these pleaded guilty, but eventually the whole 35 pleaded guilty, each being convicted and fined £1. ■

Ah Lee, one of the principals, who inw onlv a new arrival in Auckland, was fined £2, whilst the charge against, Jim Wong was reduced to one of being found in a common gaming house. He was fined J!l. Tvng Hing was remanded till Wednesday, bail being allowed in one surety of J;SO.