BIG POLICE NIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 273, 15 May 1912, Page 8

BIG POLICE NIGHT

. IN A CHINESE DEN. i THIRTY-EIGHT ARRESTS MADE. SOME OP THE SCENES. By Telegraph—Prese Asiociation. Auckland, May 13. It has long been suspected that some premises on the south side of Wakefield street were used by Chinese residents as a gambling house, and the police recently made arrangements for a raid. This was effected last night about 8 o'clock, and nearly 40 Chinese were arrested. The raid was the first of the kind in Auckland for eleven years. The premises consist of a large and roomv hall, used as a store-room, and an old ramshackle wooden building next door. Collectively they li.vv been dubbed bv their frequenters the "Northern Club." The raid was carried out by Sergeants Ferguson and Bird and eleven, constables, who entered and seized all | who were within, and then waited for further victims.

The only entrance in use was a small doorway in the large doors in fronts of the building, and the constable stationed inside gave more than a hearty welcome ■ to anyone who presented himself at the little door. There are other Chinese establishments in the neighborhood, and a number of men came down from these at intervals, and two of them were added to the contingent of their chastened countrymen inside. Of the next pair one gathered from his companion's unusually hurried entry and from a gasped word or two that something was wrong, and rushed back to his friends up the street. No more victims came to the door after that.

The Chinese who were disturbed in the building took their surprise very calmly. One or two of them showed signs of resisting, but were advised by the police to behave themselves. There were five tables in the room and these were apparently devoted respectively to fantan, pakapoo. dice, cards, and dominoes. On four of them there was money. This was seized by one of the sergeants, and the other arrested the alleged banker. His alleged clerk dodged under the table on the instant.

SOME PROFESSED CHRISTIANS. Altogether 38 arrests were effected. The men were of all ages, and, among them, were 29 who had been to church, and who are professed members of the Christian Chinese community.

The prisoners were brought out in small batches, and taken to the police station in si motor-car. Remarkably little attention was attracted by the raid until the car had made three or four trips. CHINESE HUMOR. Then a number of Chinese came round the doors and watched the proceedings with mixed feelings. They bantered the prisoners now and then, and the rictims of the law's alertness retaliated in kind, often making reference in pigeon English to the motor-car, and their temporary accession to prominence. When the Car had run back and forth' a few times, a large crowd at the foot of the street suddenly deserted an openair speaker, and flocked around. They were much interested in the proceedings, but made no demonstration of anr kind.

COURT PROCEEDINGS. At the Police Court this morning th arrestees, who had been released on bai on the previous evening, were chargec with having been found in a commoi gaming house. All pleaded not-guilty, an-1 a remand was granted for a week. Ting Hing was charged with keeping a house in Wakefield street which was used as a common gaming house, and Jim Wong and Ah Lee were charged with assisting in the management of a common gaming house. These cases also were adjourned till Monday nex* for hearing. Bail for the three alleged principals was allowed in one surety of £IOO each, and, for the others, in one surety of £lO each. The bail was forthcoming.