A GAMBLING CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2427, 19 November 1892, Page 3

A GAMBLING CASE.

An extraordinary trial known as the judicial gambling case has just come to an abortive conclusion at Tokio (Japan). What lent unusual interest to the case was the fact that the defendants accused of illegal gambling were personages no less distinguished than the President and the six Judges of the Supreme Court. The alleged offence with which they were charged consisted in playing cards in a tea house with some of the dancing girls of the capital for partners. Owing to the high possltion ot the accused and the fondness of the Japanese for euphemisms, the the case was known in public circles as the u Flower Play Matter,” because the game in which the judges were supposed to have been indulging was the Japanese game of Hana Awase, or Hower matching, so called because the cards bear representations of various kinds of tiowora which have to be brought into couples by the players. Owing to the grave scandal which has been occassioued by such charges being preferred against the very administrators of the law, stronovia efforts were made to hush the matter up, but the accused Judges, especially Judge Kojima Iken, the president of the Supreme Court, declare their resolve to have the whole matter thoroughly sifted. The most eminent counsel of the Japanese bar were retained, and a special tribunal was called. An admonition tribunal was opened in the Administrative Court for the purpose of conducting the investigation. The inquiry was conducted with closed doors,