1923-12-06 — Page 5

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CHEUNG CHAU AS A GAMBLING RESORT.

AX

** EYE-OPENER " POLICE.

FOR, THE

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 1923.“

THE CHILDRENS CLUB

HONGKONG SOCIAL EXPERI-

MENT.

ren's Club Stall at which there will be displayed, and sold, a number of articles made by members of the Club,

SUIT BY H & S BANK

AT SHANGHAI ALLEGED FELONIOUS PRÜCEDURE BY BELGIAN TRADING CO.

TRADE

What brought the situation to a head, witnesk coatinued, was that the Bank "found that no goods were being shipped. On August 17th, he questioned defendant, observing that he had not appeared to

to this be sent in a list of goods and said they were open to inspection, bait natur-

straight away to count them.They thought defendant was telling the truth. and left it at that.

Mr. Vane Haute: Oh what date did

An interesting new attraction at the We have all heard of the Macao Charity Bazaar under the auspices of the EVIDENCE OF SHANGRAY'S POOR | have shipped much of late. In answer gambling houses and many people from Hongkong Women's Guild and Minister- Flongkong have been over there and hading Children's League, at Government a little futter at jantan and other Chi- House next Saturday, will be the Child- | Stegen, proprietor of the Belgian Trading ally the bank did not send a man round nese gambling games, but not many have heard of the Cheung Chau gambling bouses, even though they have been car ried ou for some time and have evidently ¦ done big business. But it is too late now to think of taking a trip to Cheung Chan for a gamble, as the police have heen there and cleaned up the dens. But there was a time, not so far distant, in fact less than a week ago, when one could go to the island and join in illegal gambling games without unich fear of discovery by

Transactions between Mr. E. Van der

Co, and the Hongkong and Shanghai lank were the subject of an important ease beard in the Belgian Consular Court The Children's, Ĉinly is held in the sun-at Shanghai on November 30th, before mer and has now been in existence for the Consul General (Mr. Van Haute) and two years. It aims at overcoming Bone Messrs. A. Lagrange and M. de Caters of the drawbacks to children's happiness (Assessors). and well-being attendant upon life in Hongkong, and especially at bringing them together, uniting them in some kind of work for less fortunate children else- where.

The petition presented by the Bank stated that Mr. Van der Stegen had an export. or packing account with the Bank, and on September 21st this account showed a balance in favour of the Bauk

defendant tell you there were no goods at all in his godown?

ADMISSION OF FRADE.

Witness: Ten days later." "I asked him what he meant by telling me 10 days ago that he had these goods, and his reply was that he had been lying the whole time. I said "That is fraud," and he

the police. Not that the Chinese police! The children have act at Mrs. Ber-of Tha 175.3319.61 By a judgment of the said "Yes, it is. He admitted it.. on the island did not know about is hard's house once week during the sura Court dated September 4th, the Belging / AIR Van Haute: How did you think a

There were two of them, and they both know of the existence of gambling dens which were probalily amongst the largest discovered of recent years by the police. But, evidently for a bribe of a few silver dollars these constables--a plain clothes man and a uniformed man-closed their eyes to what was going on in their midst. Curiously enough all the natives on the -istand know of these very inge public gambling schools and they even claim that the European Police Sergeant on the Island was the only one who did not know of them."

mer. They spend some of the time in sewing, drawing, etc.. and listening to hooks which are read to them. after ten, all take part in games, which Later,

a drill sergeant rom the Navy assists in organising.

Each chiki has brought a book to the Club and thus a small library has been built up from which each child in able to borrow a different hack each week Mrs. Beckwith has very kindly managed the library."

|

Trading Co, was declared in bankruptøy.

firm which had a dehit with one Bank amounting to TIs. 700,000, which had to be Alleging that defendants mode of proguaranteed, could do business!" character, and had the elements of cedure had been plainly of a felonious

Witness: Half the firms doing businesa swindling," the petition continued: The name. Those debits are being held over, in Shanghai- have large debits to their way in which Van der Stegen acted was and new business is being carried an as follows: The Belgian Trading Co. pur straightforward lines. This export ne- chased on the spot goods to be exported count is an account which stands on its and drew on the Bank for the amount of

-own-merits-entirely--has nothing tordur the price of the said goods. In considera with just indebtedness to us. He might tion for this, they undertook to keep and have owed the Asia Bank five lakhs, but ship the goods, detailed statements of that should not prevent him front doing which were then presented to the Bank.honest and straightforward basiness. Wo Against payment of the cheque Ar al have other accounts agniast him, ex- vange of cash, defendant transferred to change contracts, and a loan not secured. the Hark the ownership of certain goods, but that should not have prevented him promised to sell some or ship for account from running his business honestly so far of the Bank, and further promised to hand as export goes. It is current business over all bills of lading when issued. standing on its own merits entirely, If Plaintiffs alleged that by obtaining ad-fraud is to be condoned because a firma is in debt and has no security to cover its indebtedness. then most of the firms in Shanghai would be committing fraud. There are very few firms in Shanghai at present on their feet. That is the posi- tion.

The Club was started by Mes. Sanders However, sooner or later, these things and Mrs. McNaghten in 1922 and has been come to light and the news of the exist-conducted with great success by Mrs. A. ing state of affairs came to the notice of G. M. Fletcher, assisted by Lady Rees the Criminal Investigation Department at Davies, Mr. Edgar Davidson, and any Central Police Station. So, in the quiet other ladies. The idea is. eapable of con of the night, some two or three days ago, ¦ siderable development; all that is needed a small demy of European and Chinese is that ladies may be found willing to detectives set out to raid the island. But lend their drawing rooms and give up onevances of money on goods which he hid one of those little things which at uri.caij afternoon a week to "club running." nutment generally appear to upset val- Here is a useful field of social service.

ulations cropped up, and spoiled the complete success of the raid. On arrival |

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at L'heung Chau there were no sampans TAIKOO FOOTBALL MATCH. there to transfer the police to shore A number of detectives, however, volunteer-! ed to get asbere by hook or, by crook, and five of them succeeded. These five-all pruulit to theai-raided the gambling dens which were crowded at the time. In two honses alone which the detectives entered

it is estimated that, theût af this number „they succeeded in holding up -44, includ ing three of the proprietors simply stampeded.

The following phyme from the pen of a Taikon poet caused a great deal of amusement at Tuesday's concert at Tai- koo Club when it was sung to the tune of "Lutte for the Schule the Morn- ing

·

IZLE-LAMENT.

(To be sung to the fuur of "Lute for Schals in the morning.”). Of all the tou That I've watched from Clyde to Thames, But careful as the Criminal Investiga-To-day's game was the limit. I won't tion Department was that the details of mention, any names, the raid should not leak out, the news

"

But I know there's one or two Will be absent from Taikoo.

hot in fact purchased or which were not in fact stored in his godowns, or which were already pledged to some other per | 'sons,, he had obtained money under ** fal- Incious pledges." When summoned to do so by the Bank on August 17th, deféudant

Continuing, witness said that when de- presented a statement of goods in stock fendant came and confessed fraud, he of the total value of Tis. 177,000, and | (witness) pointed out that when the go- said that the goods were in inspeedown was inspected in April he had the tion." Within 15 days, he filed a peti- goods all right nud ́asked him how he tion in bankruptcy and was declared i could have lost all that money since then. bankrupt on September 4th. The last He replied: "The goods you saw in April cheque, drawn by defendant on the Bank were not paid for." was for Tis 8,000 on August 15th, against Mr. Van Haute: The money had been 20,000 mabibit, skins (tanned and prepared); ; advanced. |- but this ora, defendant ceded to hut he had i the Asia Banking Corporation as security all his eventual interests in the suit

brought against the fra of Messrs. Neuss

spread rapidly and when the police visit When the whistle blows for work in the Hesslein, and on August 18th, the petition

ed the Chering Chau police station shortly afterwards in order to arrest the Chinese -constables they found that they had already vanished and up to the present they have not been traced,

As to the gamblers the three proprietors "were hauled before the District Officer South on Tuesday and fined $500 each. The other 41 gamblers estreated their hail .of 83 each.

THE BANDITS OF KWANGTUNG.

A SHUNTÁK MERCHANT'S NARROW ESCAPE.

An interesting story of how he was "deceived, bed and threatened by & gang of his bandit friends is told, says the Canton Gazette, by a Shuntak merchant,

who, after having been, held by the ban dits for six meaths made good his escape recently.

Six months ago, Yang. Yui-chun, a mer- cbant of Shuntak district, received: letter from one of his friends telling him that he (the friend) had been appointed

morning.

This team, Taikoo has got. They are an ancient lot

Some of 'em were footballers, when Water-

Ioo was fought;

Their oki bones will be that sore," And for two, three days or more

alleged, he made the same cession to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank.

Pald

the derid, defendant.. THE DEFENDANT LOSSES. Addressing the Court on behalf of defendant, Mr. Brault said his lossca originated in 1920, and Mr. Mehoish had admitted in Court that the Bank was

aware of his situation. The Bank niso knew that defendant had an overdraft of 31. Premet appeared for plaintiffs and shout Tis. 500,000 with the Asia Bank and

Mr Brault for defendant,

Plaintiff's case having been stated at

They will chair it down the hill in length by M. Premet, evidence was given

the morning.

They never got the "ball,

But they'd trip o'er it and fall:

by Mr. R. P. Melbuish, accountant of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. He stated that the bank's transactions with

that this bank, and many others, wanted guarantees for their overdrafts. As the Hongkong Bank held all defondant's capital, they knew very well that he could not guarantee overleaft with other Banks

Our team are only steady, when their the Belgian Trading Co. went back a good with anything but the goods which he was

backs are to a wall.

1 can picture Joiner Gray

Helping Wallace "doon the brae,” And consoling wi' each other in the morn-

ing.

The score it was four-two In favour of Taikoo:

But four is simply nothing, mind, To what we still can do." When we've finished this week's grind. In the Club "oor beam" you'll find; And we'll score a dozen goals on Sabbath

morning.

SPORT.

CRICKET.

"' JOCK."

H.K.C. la XI, NAVY.

many years.

THE LOCAL STAGNANCY,

paying for with the money advanced to him by the Hongkong-Bank---The pleiir Asked by what means the Bank knew tiffs knew also that defendant had only of the Company's financial position, wit kept going in business during the last three years because Chinese business men neas answered that they knew it had no consented to give him such credit that financial position. Like half the firms in he could buy the goods from them only Shanghai, it was practically bankrupt but, after shipment, instead of paying at the as in the case of the others, business, was moment the Bank was advancing money, carried on. The Bank thought defendant The Bank kept defendant going in this was honest and trusted him to a certain way because of the enormous profits extent. Ile seemed to do a big business which they made through his business with Europe and America, apparently had every year. They charged him 6 per cent. A big turnover, and as he had no capital, a quarter on about Tha 1,000,000 and made witness used to question him a good deal 75 per cent, profit during the last three about his shipments; in short, witness years. The enormous losses made by häthered him a good deal the whole time, defendant in July last in egg yolk, de-

a high military commander and requested

and he always gave an assurance that spite the precautions he took in inspect things were going all right. Witnessing the goods (which resulted in his being Yang to come to Canton immediately to The following will represent the thought defendant must have obtained a boycotted by the Chinese merchants for belp him in his military affairs Attract the League match on their own ground good deal of this money absolutely bce sheet with the Bank in August. The

Hongkong Civil Service Cricket Club in

wife) obliged him to deposit his bal ed by the boneur sad influence of being at 2.15 p.m. on Saturday:-A. E. Wood false pretences, without having the goods gucds he had in the godown were not then amilitary officer, Yang started for Can-(enptain), G. R. Sayer, F. J. de Rome, at all. Lon at once in spite of the warning of his R. E. O Bird, A. B. Sutherland, E. B.

paid for and he had to give them back to friends and relations. Since then he had Reed, F. J. Ling, FH. Holdman, B. D.

the merchants or ship a "suall part of not been heard of by his mother and Evans, F. Baker and R. C. Witchell friends until several days ago when he suddenly appeared and related how he had been kept prisoner, by a gang of ban-

its in a place somewhere near Saho.

Yang said that after his arrival at Can ton, he met his friends at a certain arding house, and was taken by them in a motor car to baho. He was then told that he was being taken to the military headquarters, where he would be given the post of paymaster of the army. How ever, when he arrived at the "headquar ters, which was no other than the den of the bandite, Yang received a threat that he would be shot unless, he wrote "n letter home immediately asking his mother to send in a sum of 83,000 to the In this end division League pantch og bundit thief Yang preferred to die than the Kowloon ground on Saturday (kick- to obey. He was kept under lock by the off, .30 p.m.), the home team will be com bandits with the hope of his eventual post of J. Bench; B. Rasmussen and D. change of mind. But Yang kept up his Urquhart: A. W. Brown. F. W. Olliver determination firmly for the past six and S. Emile Hest, WH. Brown, months until several days ago, when he A. Spary, A. Walls and B. T. Harlock. chanced to break loose and make good Reserves: L. H. Taylor and S. W. Chap "his escape.

FOOTBALL, *'

KOWLOON . R.C.A.

Mr. Van Haute: Why did the Bank cen- tinue to make advances to defendant in the circumstances?

Witness: Because that is what the banks are here to do, to finance export and import merchants. We had dealt with defendant before and we thought be was honest: We knew he had lost money The following team has been selected to good connections; and as we thought be but he owed the Bank money, and he had represent the Kowloon F.O. in their 1st was honest we continued to finance his division League match on Saturday on the business. I think that makes the situm Kowloon ground (kick-of, 4 p.m.):-Ction worse from his point of viewe Stewart; F. Wheeler and T. L. Knight; Mr. Van Houte: After the crisis of 1921,

J. Leonard, J. McKelvie and A. Duncan you knew perfectly well that the Belgian K Mason, C. Millard, A. Latham, J. Trading Co. had not only lost its capital Morton and J. Muir Reserves: B. but was even far behind t Paseo and E, Cooke..

Witness: Yes. It was in our own books, I am afraid he was not the only one in Shanghai, but the other firms have not heen dishonest. They lost money but car ried on. We have carried them on.

KOWLOON CLUB DE RECREIO,

always made for goods already in the Mr. Van Haute: Were your advances godowns or goods still to be purchased?

Witness In his forms he said he was purchasing goods. The advance was a specifle one against certain goods which could be obtained or which had been

obtained.

then

Counsel contended that the Bank ought to have compelled defendant to liquidate his situation three years ago and then. help him to start with a fresh business if they wanted to go on at all. Instead of doing that, they encouraged him to they knew his position was unsound. increase bis business every day, when From a legal point of view, defendant was owner without any limitation of the goods which he presented to the Bank goods which he declared himself to be. and he had made contracts for all thic owner of The Trust receipt" was not suge deed, and defendant was not there- considered in Belgian law even as a mort fore subject to any criminal, proceedings. Taking into consideration the admission which had been made concerning the

sal asked the Court not only to release Bank during the last three years, coun- Latercourse between defendant and the

hut, considering all the circumstances, to defendant from any criminal accusation

exonerate him. from any blame."; va the Assessors, Mr. Van Haute announced After a brief private consultation with that judgment would be reserved.

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WITHOUT

UNNECESSARY. WEIGHET

IS THE PREDOMINANT FACTOR OF

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P. O Box 530..

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St. George's Buildings, Ice House Street

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