$210,000 for Trafficking in Opium A record fine was inflicted by the Kowloon Magistracy last week, Harold Anderson (55), an American engineer of the str. Las Vegas, being fined $210,000 by Afr. E, W: Hamilton.
Defendant pi charge of having Government prepared opium in his possession - on board the vessel was. lying alongside No. wharf of the Kowloon Godown Ca.
The opium was worth no less thi $21,000 (one-tenth the fine). was alleged that an Indiaa watchman saw two Chinese drawing something from over the side of the ship by mea ropes. A European was watching the pro-coedings close by. Two boxes were brought up. The watchman then went over to the Chinese and asked who owned the boxes. The European (defendant) said "B'iong my." The Indian told him that the boxes hal watchmen "tid that he would get 8 Chinese Sergeant, to which defendant replied that if he did not get a Police Sergeant he would give him some money. The Indian told defendant that he did not want any' money, but only wanted to search the boxes. During the conversation the two Chinese went away. Defendant then produced two keys, and one of the boxes was opened. The Chief Officer was called and boxes were taken to the Water'
Po Station and when opened the opium was found contained in 350. five-tael tins. A European detective went back to the ship with the watchman, who pointed out defendant, the latter then being arrested.
Asked if he had anything to say defendant stated that he was "hard up" and had a family to keep. He did not buy the opium but' was carrying it on a commission of $3,000.
The fine of $210,000 or one year's hard labour was imposed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.