DRAWN DAGGER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 350, 11 October 1932, Page 5

DRAWN DAGGER

(Press. Assn.—

IN FAN-TAN DEN CHINESE INTIMIDATED WHILE THIEF MAKES HIS ESCAPE MONEY SNATCHED FROM TABLE

By Telegraph— Copjrlghtx.

Auckland, Monday. A sensational hold-up of a fan-tan bank in a Ghinese gamblirig sch'ool in the city occurred last night, when a countryman of the players grabbed £3l 12/- from a table, drew a dagger and backed out through a door way to make' off with' the money. He told the others what he wanted the money for. Between 20 and 30 Chinese wero eith( r seated at or round a table playing fan-tan. The game is piayed with beans which are taken from a bowl with a scoop and emptied upon the table. From the beap op. the table four beans are taken at a time until there are four or less beans remaining, and these deeide >all hets. A. player must be "on" either one, two three, of four beans left. Last night the "bank" started off with about £50 and play had been going some time, with luck against the bank. At 8.35 p.m. there was on the board alongside the banker the sum of £31 12/-. At his right was the "clerk" who was keeping the hook and looking after the interests of the shareholders of the bank. Grabbed Money Among those looking on w(as a Chinese who through circumstances partly beyond his control was required to find a considerable suxn of money within a spacific time. While the croupier was raking away the beans from tha heap this spectator suddenly leaped over and grabbed the money. At once there was an excitad jabbering; among the players, and all juxxxped to their feet; but the thief drew a dagger, which had the effect of causixxg any who felt like tackling him to hesitate. With the dagger in orie hand and th'e £31 12/- in the othex*, he backed through the doorway and disappeared outside. Another man, who was standing outside the door of the dexx, also disappeared. Some of the Chinamen suggested repofting the hold-up to the police, hut the majority decided not to take the matter outside their own circle. This is the second occasion that a bank has been held upi in a Chixxese gambling schooi. Some years ago a thief snatched over £80 and got away with it.