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Small Fines, However, Not Sufficient Deterrent 'A thorough investigation into the ook-see" swindle in Shanghai was progress on Friday and further Jerrests were reported as having been made in both the International Seitlement and the French Concession. It was reliably learned that the Police both territories had brought hundreds of offenders before the Chinese [Courts in recent months, but, owing to the small maximum' punishment jstlowed by the Criminal Code in stich eases, there had been many refretitions of offences by released boys, who often went from one district' to another to continue their From being a casual method of turning over a dishonest copper, the. "look see" racket has been definitely organized and incorporated, an investigation by the "North-China Herald" shows. 'The tion Is known cers' Club"—"turt being the word that describes the appearance of a motor ear most closely in the eyes of the racketeers. The "turtle watch-erg" are divided up into districts.
watcher from one district allowed to "muscle in" on - another district, Watchers under the! control of a No. 1 racketeer in each istrict, and the most popular car parks are each under a minor No, 1, to whom the "look seo" boys pay over the): takings, and who decides whether or not a particular car is to be sabotaged.
So well has the racket been planned, that no popular social sporting function can take without the racketeers being present to benefit. The local press is combed for news of anything forthcoming, and now even the start and finishing points of the Paper Hunt Club are rallying points for members of the racket, Cinemas with successful Alms are among their happiest hunt Ing grounds, while night clubs and cabarets that are well patronized bring a never ceasing stream revenue into the pockets of the leaders of the racket or alternatively stream out of the coffers of the Insurance companies that have to Owners Classified According to. the "North-China Merald" investigation, motor ear owners are classified as good payers, bad payers, and "stingy." This is easy for the. racketeers when' an owner Is in the habit of parking his car In one spot every day or Jeaving it outside his house at night. One insurance company has had to pay out five successive claims from tone motor owner who habitually' uses the parking space at Lafayette Gardens and who has been classified as "stingy" by the racketeers because he has consistently refused to con-Form to their demands for payment, "The company sent -out a special investigator who made contact. with the local No. 1" of the racketeer The No. 1 was quite open about Why, he asked, was the owner 50 "stingy"?
Why would he not pay up and enjoy peace and quiet? The particular claim being investigated was for a dashboard clock stolen from the car, Yes, the No.1 knew all about the clock. Tk wag worth $80; for $20 the No. 1 would "give the insurance \agent the clock and call ita day. He seemed quite impervious {o threats of the police.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.