Auckland Chinese 1902

[NZBC]

CHINESE GAMBLERS. RAID OX A GAMING HOUSE THIRTY Chinamen Arrested AND FINED.

Last night about 10 o'clock a party of Auckland uetectives and police, under Chief Detective Grace, raided a house occupied by a -Chinaman named Ah Yong in Wakefield-street, and after an exciting scene arrested a large number of Chinese on charges of being found hi a gaming house. When the police entered the house the game of fan-tan was proceeding and the place was full of players. A scene of . great excitement followed, and the china: icn rushed for the doors and windows, but at every point they ..ere met.^by the police, and were soon handcuffed and marched down to the lock-up. The banker was found hiding under the gaming table. A considerable sum of money was found in me room, and a fan-tan gambling set was also taken. The Chinese were subsequently all bailed out by their friends.

The folio-wing- arc the names of the Chinese arrested: —Ah Cow. 64; Ah Yew, '61, cook; All Shee, 37, shopman; Yet Gee, 55, gardener; Ah Sin"-, 23, gardener; Tei Wah, 40, cook; Sing Yet, 32, laundryman; "Willie Goon 30. gardener; All Tan, 28, gardener; Ah Way, 55, gardener; Chin Sing-, 33, gardener; Leng Kum, 39, gardener; Ah Hing, 40, gardener; Ah Wong, 30, gardener (the banker); Yet Lee, 50, gardener; Ah Young. 22, gardener; Mcc Ivee, 40, laundryman; Ah Ling, 40. cook; Ah San, 42, grocer and doctor; All Yong, 4;), grocer (keeper of the house); Len Sing, 36, gardener; Len Gee, 41, gardener; Ah Ling, 34. gardener; Ming Sue, 33, gardener; Bing Chew, 3O, gardener; Ah Lean. 40, gardener; Ah Choy, 52, gardener; Lue Wong-, 50, grocer; Young Chin, 48, grocer; Ah Low, 45, gardener; Chin Chin, gardener. The Chinamen were all lined up at the Police Court this morning before Mr Brabant, S.M. Mr ,T. C. Martin appeared for the accused and pleaded guilty on their behalf. The bulk of the men were charged with being found in a common gaming house without lawful excuse. Ah Wong was charged with being the banker of the gaming house, and two of the others as his assistants.

Mr Martin said the Chinamen arrested were not a nuisance to the street, and there were no Europeans, either girls or men, in the house. Thiswas the Chinese New Year holiday season, and the prisoners were keeping holiday and nad met to celebrate in this fashion by playing the national game of fan-tan.

Mr Brabant fined the keeper of the house £25, the two assistants £3 each, Yet Gee (twice previously convicted) £3 Ah Yen and Ah Shee (previously convicted) £2 each, and the rest, of the accused £1 each.

Chief Detective Grace said there was sufficient money found in the establishment and on prisoners to pay the fines.
Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1902, Page 8

[NZBC]

Assault.—A Chinaman named Ah How was charged with assaulting a boy named Russell Cooper on December 7. The boy gave evidence to the effect that he lived opposite the accused in Curran-street, Ponsonby, and that on the evening in question he was walking down Curran-street when accused overtook him and put his hand on his shoulder, raising a knife over his head, and asking if he had thrown stones on his house. Witness said that he had not done so, and screamed, and accused then dropped the knife. Mr J. C. Martin, who appeared for accused, stated that the Chinaman was continually annoyed by boys throwing stones on the roof. On the evening of the assault a volley had fallen on the roof. Accused, who was cutting beans at the time, rushed out to pursue the boys without putting down the knife, which he had no intention of using. When the boy denied that he had thrown stones at accused's house, he at once said "All right" and walked up tiie street with the boy. A fine of 20/ and costs was inflicted. Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1902, Page 2