Liu An-san and Sung Teo-kyung, both described as unemployed, were charged with being concerned together in pul gambling end conducting", gambling establishment at No. 46, Nanking Road, on the 17th instant.
Sung Tse-kyung was further charged, under a Taotai's warrant, with being professional gambler and a danger to the Mr. F. Ellis appeared for the defence. Mr. K. J. McEuen said he had amended the charge since the last and asked the Court to secept the charge as amended.
The Court agreed.
Detective-Inspector McDowell stated that about two wacks ago a Chinese gentleman came to the Central Police Station and reported that some months previously he had lost $3,000, including $1,000 worth of jewellery, gambling at No. 46, Nanking Road. On hearing this, witness reported the matter to the deputy superintendent, who decided that he and witness would visit the premises, 46, Nanking Road, on the 17th instant. At 10 p.m. on.the 17th they visited the Club, and on getting inside found 18 or Jing with dominoes and chips. Witness 20 people sitting round tables, and gamb-
his companion made no arrest at the time, but asked to see the books. They examined the books, which proved clearly. that the establishment was a gambling concern and that heavy gambling was carried on to a very large extent. They then took the manager, Liu An-san, into custody, and he admitted having the informant's jewellery and was anxious to compromise the matter. The informant also pointed out the man Sung, as being ne of those who won the money and ery from him. Sung admitted that he had once been locked up at the Mixed Court for fifteen months, some years ago. On looking up the records at the Station they found that he was an old offender and that two years ago the Taotai had issued a warrant for his arrest for being a professional gambler. When they were questioning Liu An-san at the Club, wrapped up in paper. Witness pick witness saw him throw away somethin,
up the paper and found that it contained a pair of dice. Witness had been told by Chinese who had examined the dice that they were not " square."
Cross-examined by Mr. Ellis, witness said he hi red the club was established inj October, 1901, and was opened with a permit from the Municipal Council. Witness had no personal knowledge of the club previous to the present case. He had made enquiries of other detective-officers who had visited the place. The club had been open to the inspection of the lice, and other detective officers had told witness that they had visited and inspected the place. They did not say they had seen gambling carried on there.
The regulations of the club (produced) said that games of cards and dominoes ted, but gambling was forbid-different kinds of games for Chinese, Witness did not think that some were favoured by the police and others held in disfavour. He did not understand Chinese games himself. Witness knew that the police were not strict about gambling by Chinese during the first three days of the Chinese year. He did not mean to say that gambling was allowed, but that the police did not take so wuch notice of it at that time. There was no standing order that it was to be allowed. When the informant came to the station, witness questioned him as to the delay of eight months in reporting, the matter, and the informant explain that he had delayed because he had always been anxious to settle the matter of his jewellery without publicity. He said that the jewellery was a bangle or a bracelet. He lost the money and the jewellery on two different occasions. The bangle was not deposited as security for a loan, but was paid in lien of money he had lost. When they entered the club, witness did not see Lio An-san gambling. Witness first noticed him in an office adjoining the gambling "room. He had the books there. He did not clearly state his position, but witness believed that he ssid through the interpreter that he was the accountant. Witness did not know anything about Lin previously. He examined the books in the club. Witness could not read Chinese and thore-fore did not see entries in the books relating to money won or lost by Liu, but he was satisfied that Liu had gambled there.
At this stage the books were examined by the Court, and an entry of Tls. 1,700 paid to Liu was found for the 30th day of the 4th moon of the present Chinese year, also an entry of Tls. 260 salary. There was a further entry of Tls. 195 interest paid to Lin on the 80th day of the Ist moon of last year.
Cross-examination" continued—Wit-nese did not see Liu gambling. Witness did not know of his own knowledge that the dice found were not "square." He had heard some Chinese say so. The Chinese threw dice with the hand, he believed. The usual questions were put to Liu at the station. The cross-examination was not unusually strict. The charge was prepared by the deputy euperintendent.. The informant was not a member of the club, and he said they sent for him to come to the club. That would explain the term "public gambling." The informant said he was induced to go to the club. He was sent for first bout some land matter, after which they invited him to gamble. Witness saw a letter from the club to the informant, asking him to call and redeem his jewollery.
At this stage the hearing was adjourned.
A Schoolboy's Fall, Two schoolboys, named Lee Yuh-cheo and Yih Soh-yoh, were charged with being concerned together in ling various articles of clothing from 46, Burkill Road.
Mr. L. H. Gubb said he kept a school in Burkill Road and had several boarders.
The defendants attended his school. Of Into several of the boarders had boon missing articles of clothing. At first the servants were suspected, but further investigation pointed to the first defendant as the culprit. His belongings wore searched und five pawn-tickets wore found among them. The tickets were taken to the pawnbroker whose name they boro, and he gave a description of the person who pawned the clothes which exactly applied to the first defendant. When the pawnbroker saw Lee Yuh-cheo he identified him as the boy who had pawned the goods. In Lee's bedding wore found concealed several silver dollars which bore the pawnbroker's chop. When questioned, Lee stated that Yih Soh-yoh had been concerned with him.
After hearing the evidence of some native witnesses, and examining the defendants, the Court acquitted Yih Soh-yoh, and sentenced Lee Yuh-chee to 100 blows on the hand and one year's detention in a reformatory.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.