CHINESE DOPE KING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4704, 28 May 1924, Page 1

CHINESE DOPE KING.

SENTENCED TO BE DEPORTED. THE FIGHT AGAINST DOPE. Brilliant Chang, one of the dops kings of London, was found guilty at the 013 Bailey last month of being in possession of cocaine. He was sentcncgd to 14 months’ imprisonment ,in the second division, and recommended for deportation. Thus ends another episode in Scotland. Yard’s fight against the dope traffickers of London. Up to last year this 37-year-old Chinaman had a Chinese restaurant in Regent Street, where he exercised his wiles and sold his wares, but the Freda Kempton inquest disclosures brought him vividly into the limelignt, and he retired to Limehouse. After the Old Bailey jury had found Chang guilty Detective Jones gave some details of his career. There were no previous convictions against him, but he had a bad reputation said the detective. “A laid was made in Birmingham in 19>7, when some correspondence was found which showed that Chang, was engaged in drug traffic,” he said. Kempton died all the evidence went to show that Chang supplied the drug. There was no prosecution, because there was not sufficient evidence to put the responsibility on, him. “The Chinese restaurant which he carried on in .Regent Street was notorious, although sufficient, evidence was never obtained to convict him. “Five or. six Chinese-were caught trafficking, in cocaine among women of the street, and they were all in the employ of this man Chang at his restaurant. “He severed his connection with the restaurant shortly after the Freda Kempton case, and for some time was 'partner in a West-end night club. TOO. WILY FOR CAPTURE. “Immediately after he arrived at Lime-house Causeway drug traffic *- veloped, but his methods were so : crafty and he was so cunning that it was impossible to catch him. ! “On one occasion when we Visited his house two young girls were sleeping in his room.” ' The Recorder: He led an immoral life ?—Absolutely immoral. He not only ruined young girls by means of cocaine. not deal with a girl until £he had already, been corrupted. i ““He did not approach any directly, jtjut through girls he had already corrupted/ ••That .has be,en going on for some, tipie, past.” The Recorder; Have you anything in his favour ?—I am sorry, no. Perhaps you would,. Dke to see this letter, several copies of which in Chang s handwriting were found in Lis room. The Rqcpyd.qr.Tead the letter, which was as follows :— “Dear Unknown One, —Please do not regard it a,s impudent that I. write to -you.. I cannot resist it after having seen, you and your many charms, and .1 would like to know you better. I wonder if you' would do me the, honour of meeting me one evening for a •quiet little dinner and a chat. It iwould give me very great pleasure /indeed. d ’ln any case dp not be cross with me for writing. If you reply please addiess it to the Shanghai Restaurant.” SOUL-DESTROYING DRUG. Asked if he had anything to say, Chang replied “No.” “ The Recorder then addressed him: “Brilliant Chang, the jury have found you guilty of the possession of this soul-destroying drug. It is you and men like you who are crippling the Womanhood of this country. “Parliament has. given judges, great powers, greatly extended powers, for dealing.with traffic in this vile stuff. I am not going to add to your sentence because of the reputation you bear. I merely look at a man’s reputation to see if I can reduce the sentence I should otherwise pass. ‘ Girls must be protected from this traffic , and society must be purged. “You have already been in prison for. one month. You will go to prison for 14 montjis in the second division, and you will be recommended for deportation.” Chang heard the sentence unmoved.