TONG HEE'S HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 284, 28 May 1912, Page 6

TONG HEE'S HOUSE

I : I BLAND DEFENCE AVAILS NOT. Auckland, May 22. In connection with the police raid on the Chinese premises at Wakefield street i another alleged principal, Tong Hee, made his appearance before Mr, E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Police Court to-day. Prior to the occupancy of the premises j by the other alleged principal, Ting Hing, Tong Hee had been the lessee of the place, but had disposed of the goodwill of the so-called boardinghouse to Ting Hing for a consideration of £l7 10s. j Tong Hee, however, still paid the rent, j Ting Hing being merely a sub-tenant,' j When called, Tong Hee admitted hav-' ing previously kept the premises in Wakefield street, but said that he now had no share in the profits derived from the boarders. He denied absolutely that gambling had gone on in the premises when he was proprietor, and vouchsafed the information that, personally, he had no knowledge of Chinese games of chance. He was certain, also, that, during Ting Hing's sub-tenancy of the premises, the house was a legitimate boardinghouse. Asked by the sub-inspector it it were not a fact that several Chinese had lost sums ranging from £9O to £l6O at the house I "whilst he was tenant Tong 'Hee said that { these imputations were in no wise cor- { rect. When conducting the boarding- ! house he made a profit, ranging from 10s to £2 per week. The assertion of the I police that he still owned three out of four shares in the house was also unbounded. iTing Hing, who was also charged with being a principal, gave evidence as to having purchased tho goodwill of the premises from Tong Hee. Since the time of the purchase he had conducted the house as a bona fide boardinghouse, and not, as was imputed, as a gaming house. He admitted that Chinese stayed on the premises all night, and sometimes indulged in a little relaxation by playing Chinese games. These games, however, were never played for money, t In giving his decision, Mr. Cutten said that there was no doubt that the premises were conducted for the purposes of gambling. One thing, however, in the accused's favor was the fact that the place was never visited by Europeans. He would fine Tong Hee £25 with costs, and Ting Hing, who had been rema,nded from Monday, would be mulcted in a like penalty, with costs.