Playing Fan Tan

[NZBC]

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1883.

Never since the Court House was built has there been such a queer-looking throng inside of it as seen yesterday afternoon, when some two dozen Chinese were arraigned before Messrs Nancarrow and Amott, J.P.s, charged with playing fan tan, in contravention of the Gaming and Lotteries Act. The prisoners were handcuffed in couples, although there appeared to be no necessity for it beyond the fact that as the Court was so crowded witli Chinamen the Police were afraid if the prisoners once got scattered identification would be hopeless. The first case was against Ah Chong, who, it was alleged, was the keeper of a gaming house in Gresson street, known as "Tanner's Smithy." The Police had the assistance of two Chinese cooks, who having been captured on the premises with the others, turned approvers. From the evidence of Sergeant O'Grady it appeared that on Thursday night, armed with a search warrant, the Police visited the gambling den, but had to force the door to effect an entrance. They found two gaming tables in full swing, Chinamen being clustered around them as close as they could squeeze, playing fan tan." It was computed that about 50 were present, and the moment they caught sight of the police a general stampede ensued, and one ingenious Mongolian sought refuge under a packing-case. Besides the stock of counters of various kinds, and gambling jrai'aphernalia generally, a sum of £1 5s lid in current coin was found on one of the tables. The Sergeant-Major got one his witnesses to explain to the Bench the method of the game. The unfortunate Chinese were so frightened that while on their way to the lock-up a number of them threw away coin and notes (one of them two £5 notes), and tobacco pouches and meerschaum pipes. Great difficulty was experienced with the interpreters, who seemed to be as much in need of interpreting as the witnesses, while the similarity of the monosyllabic names was rather confusing. A good deal of evidence was taken, but it was of very little interest. Mr Perkins appeared on behalf of the prisoners. After a patient hearing of the case the Bench fined Ah Chong £10, or one month's imprisonment in the Hokitika gaol. Ah Yun, the alleged banker, was acquitted on account of insufficient evidence. The remaining 23 Chinese were fined 10s each, or be imprisoned for 48 hours. On Joe Wah Lee coming forward and undertaking that the fines ami costs would be forthcoming at ten o'clock this morning, the crowd of prisoners were discharged.
Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4591, 12 May 1883, Page 2 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=GRA18830512.2.4&srpos=4&e=-------100--1----0disinterment+1883--