RAID ON A CHINESE DEN AT DUNEDIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1298, 3 February 1885, Page 3

RAID ON A CHINESE DEN AT DUNEDIN.

“ The holding capacity of the police cells in Maclaggan streets (says the Daily Times) was severely taxed last Sunday night. Between 9 and 10 o’clock in the evening Detectives Henderson and Bain, accompanied by two constables, made a raid upon a “fan tan” den iu Stafford street and arrested 21 out of 60 or 70 Chinamen busily engaged in that national recreation. The police were provided with a warrant, and they entered the haunt in question (a kind of a cellar at the (orner of Hope and Stafford streets) by a back door. Despite the quick rush of the invaders, the majority of the inmates were able to effect an escapesome by the two other doors of the apartment, and some by the staircase leading to the upper storey. They scattered in different directions like a flock of sheep, and by the time the exits were guarded only 20 remained prisoners. The detectives, it seems, made first for the table to secure tho money and the implements in use. A further stock of handcuffs and additional police assistance were then obtained, and the offender# were marched to the station, where the searching process occupied fully an hour and a halt. A peculiar incident was the subsequent capture of the twenty-first prisoner, Sam Wall, a Chinaman who speaks English well, and is looked upon as remarkably astute. This gentleman negotiated his escape from the building successfully, but shortly afterwards appeared at the police station with an air of childlike innocence to bail out a friend. Unfortunately for him, he had been recognised in the room, and his generous intention completely miscarried. A considerable sum of money was found upon many of the prisoners, which in most instances was declared to be ‘cabbage money ’ —the result of Saturday night’s sales. The inference is that the sale of cabbage is singularly remunerative, especially npou a Saturday evening.” The prisoners were brought up at the Police Court yesterday, and remanded till Thursday.