CHINESE GAMBLERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 31 December 1912, Page 7

CHINESE GAMBLERS.

GftEAT EXCITEMENT IN SYDNEY. Players of-fan-tan and other "nSanly sports that are played indoors" are becoming really alarmed in Sydney about the Success of the police in their 'haunts and finding games- in progress. A meeting of Chinese was held at Mary Street (said the Sydney "Sun" recently}, but despite the . elaborate precautions taken to provent. their plans becoming known to outsiders ,tho police were awaro that, the meeting was held, and of the objccts for. which it was called. ; The. business the , gathering was called to deal with. was to try and ascertain from what ..quarters the; police received information in respect of the location of Chinese gaming-houses. , ; It is no secret .-.that consternation has been caused among the Chinese gamblers as to the manner in'which the police are posted, in . regard to; their doings. It is definitely known that Chinese informers are in league with the police, but, so far, attempts to catch them nave not met with success. ~ rEaids: have been very successful lately, and-oh the evening following the last police visit to a fan-tan shop in'Campbell Street the alarm among the Chinese bccamo so great i that-gaming operations were temporarily suspended. : The ; Campbell Street house was always [regarded as .a. stronghold against police intrusion, and it was frequented bv tlio richer classes, who played for large stakes. 1 The police knew for years past of the purposes for which the building was used, but could not, until the other dav, find any suitable chance to try conclusions with' the inmates.: The building invariably bore a dark, forbidding appearance, and the front door could rarely be seen open. • The Chinese recognise that gambling is likely, to'.receivp:a severe set-back-if-the informers are, not speedily traced and removed. '. .

: The' discussion at the. meeting was car-,-ried on; in'"various dialects. It -was a sight, adds the "Sun," to see two or three speakers-yabbering excitedly at once, and from'' their expressions, one could' presume that it was decided to torture informers in any approved fashion.. There is.no-doubt .that if tho' unlucky > wretches are '.caught, their shrift on this earth \HII he a short one. , ' '' • 'The meeting broke'up amid scenes of; excitement, iind groups of Chinese could af terwaids be ' seen clustered about, the vicinity ; yal>bering' and gesticulating, and probably,having.their say, all over again. There were'no listeners, ror all were talking.-: