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ALLEGED OPIUM SMOKERS
Two Chinese Arrested in Hindley Street
OUTFIT AND' QUANTITIES OF DRUG CONFISCATED
Raiding a room in Hooker Buildings, Hindley street, shortly before 12
o'clock today the police found two elderly Chinese who, it is alleged, were
smoking opium.
The air in the room was thick with the fumes of the drug.- From
appearances the police believe that it had been in use as a den for some time.
The raid was planned and executed by
Detectives Francis, Harris, and Lindsay.
The two Chinese were taken to the City
Watchhouse.
The detectives recovered two full tins
of smoking opium, two or three half
empty jars, as well as several empty jars
and tins which, it is said, had contained
the drug.
Two complete outfits used for opium
smoking were also found.
At Adelaide Police Court tomorrow Ah
Loch, aged 70 years, cabinetmaker, and
Chap Yee, aged 63 years, cabinetmaker,
will be charged with having been in pos
session, of opium suitable for smoking.
It is about 15 years since an opium den
in Adelaide was raided successfully. On
that occasion Detective (now Inspector)
T. MIattiu was in charge.
Complaints had been received by the
Customs authorities that opium smoking
was taking place in certain shops and
houses in Hindley street. The informa
tion, was passed on to the Criminal Inves
tigation Branch.
Enquiries were made for some time by
Detectives .rlancis, Harris, and Lindsay.
As a result it was found that shcirtly
before 12 o'clock each day was the best
time to make a raid.
The entrance to the room where the
Chinese were found is through the shop
of a cabinetmaker on the ground floor.
Detective Lindsay remained on guard
outside while Detectives Harris and
Francis entered the shop.
Making their way lip a flight of narrow,
dark, wooden stairs, they came to a room
near the top. The door was closed, but
not locked. Opening it suddenly they
found two Chinese reclining on improvised
couches. Two others leaving the room.
The room measured about 14 ft. by 12
ft., and was lighted by the little daylight
which filtered through ' .a small window.
Small lamps which can be used for
smoking the drug were burning. The
couches were made of doors placed on
trestles and covered with Chinese matting.
Cooking untensils were noticed under
one of the couches and on a fire in the
grate a saucepan was boiling.
Both the Chinese arrested were thin
and wan looking. Their faces were
leaden-colored.
Lamps confiscated by the detectives
consisted of fat with wicks inserted in
them standing on perforated pieces of tin.
Over them were placed conical pieces of
green glass as funnels. These had been
made from champagne ,bottles cut round
the centre.
Hooker Buildings is in the left-tand
side of Hindley street, west of Iorphett
street, and is occupied mainly by Chinese
cabinetmakers and Maltesc..
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