OPIUM FUMES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1932, Page 8

OPIUM FUMES

IN CHINESE LAUNDRY

PIPE AND LAMP FOUND

TWO MEN CONVICTED

"When Detectives Bitehie and SmitK visited a laundry rua under the name of Liin Fong, at 42, Cuba street, on! "Wednesday night they found the kitchen, and drying room reeking with the; fumes of opium. A search of the premises revealed a quantity of opiumsmoking paraphernalia, which was produced at the Police Court to-day, whea Louis Leung, a laundryman, aged 31, was charged with.smoking opium, and also with being in possession, of utensils for use in connection with the smoking of opium. Geo Qung, a market gardener, aged 36, was charged with being found without lawful on premises used for the smoking of opium. The accused pleaded not guilty. Detective Eitehie said that when. Leung opened the door he smelt opium fumes, and on going into the drying room he found the fumes to be much.1 stronger. Qung was sitting in a chair. On searching the Toom, he found a small attache case, in which was aa opium pipe, a glass funnel, and opium, "seconds," or ash. The pipe and glasa funnel were very hot, and apparently; had just been used. On the floor near the stove was a small lamp, which was also hot, and which apparently had also been used in connection, with the smoking of the pipe.' There was' a blanket spread on the floor and • a pillow. _ Leung told him that he had just finished smoking. Qung stated that he was paying a visit to Leung and had not been smoking opium. Leung said that he had bought 2s 6d worth of opium from Haining street and that Qung had givea him the money to get it. Qung was in a dazed conditioa when he saw him sitting in the drying room.

Cross-examined by counsel for Qung, Beteetive Ritchie said that he had not seen Qung smoking and was not in a position to swear that he had been smoking. The premises could not be described as a "den."

Giving evidence, Qung said he was a market gardener at Wanganui and was visiting Wellington ,on holiday. Leung was a friend of his", and he had called to pay him a visit. At the time the . detectives arrived they were discussing affairs in China, . Witness said that he had never smoked opium. If Leung had said to the detectives that he (witness) had given him 2s 6d to. buy opium, that statement was untrue. Leung denied .that Qung had given; him 2s 6d to buy opium; he had not beemout on the street that night. Leung also denied that he had smoked opium, and said that the opium pipe and shado had become hot through being close to the fire. The opium-smoking gear did mot belong to him.

Mr. E. Page, S.M., said it was quite obvious that smoking was going on immediately '.before the arrival of the detecfives. Leung would be convicted on the charge of being in possession of opium smoking utensils, and the second charge, which was in tho nature of an, alternative, would be dismissed.

In Qung's case, Mr. Page thought that on the whole of the evidence therewas no lawful excuse for his being on the presses, "and he entered a conviction against him also.

Leung was fined £25, and Qung £12 10s, the minimum amounts the Magistrate, had power to impose. They wero each given one month to find tho money, default of payment being fixed at two months' imprisonment in each, case.