CHINESE TO PAY £50

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1929, Page 7

CHINESE TO PAY £SO

FOR HAVING OPIUM. i By Telegraph—Per Press Association., INVERCARGILL, May 29. An elderly Chinese, Yep Alau, pleaded guilty to a charge of having opiui. in his possession and a utensil fo, smoking opium; in the police court to day. Detective Lc Sueur said that he hac occasion to go to a room occupied b; the accused. He searched the heel and under the mattress lie found : utensil. The accused was not presen: Witness took the utensil (produced >■ and a suitcase into the shop. The de Cendant had the key of the suitcase, and lie opened it. Witness searche*. ihem and found nothing. Subsequent |y he revisited the defendant’s hum dry and searched him. He found i jar of opium (produced) in his possess ion in his waistcoat in a special pocket cut in it.

Yep Man, through his interpreter, said that the opium was brought to him about two weeks ago by a white man whom lie had never seen before. He gave os for it. When lie was In China he brought home with him some “seconds” of opium. They were to be used medicinally.

The Magistrate said that the weight of evidence was against the defendant, who would he fined the minimum penalty of £25 on each charge. The defendant intimated he had no money, but the Detective Sergeant stated that, ho had an account- in the Savings Bank for £IOO. He wa*= ordered to pay the fines forthwith.