The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-07
REMARKABLE OPIUM SEIZURE
ON SATURDAY.
An Iron Opium Den That Defied Raids
Is Penetrated by Clever Detective
Work.

Wong Leong called at Yee Wos OPT
um Joint on Saturday night and gave
the fourteen inmates the most startling
surprise they have ever experienced.
The story of Wong's arrival reads like
a chapter from thrilling detective story
for Wong Leong was DeputySheriH
Charles f. Chillingworth. Old Sleuth
the detective never did anything bet
ter than Chillingworth AID in getting
into this joint, disguised as a Chinese,
and keeping up the deception among
fourteen Mongolians until they brought
him pipe and dope.
Yee Wo's opium joint on Liliha street
has long had a reputation as the best
joint in Honolulu, the only place where
an opium loving heather might smoke
in perfect security. 1t is a house of
iron. entered only through three doors
that are of ponderous weight and heav-
lily barred. Behind these three doors,
leading successively into Railways un-
til the main room is reached, the Chi
nese have felt that they could smoke
at leisure for whenever they were raid
ed they had plenty of time between the
arrival of the police and the officers
entry by breaking down the powerful
barriers, to destroy all evidence.
A short time ago Chillingworth raid
ed the joint. He appeared at the doors
with the late lamented officer Hanra-
han and several others and axes were
brought into requisition.
The alarm was given within, and by
the time the hard working officers had
broken through the barriers the evil
dence they hoped for was in ashes.
The charred remains of some opium
pipes, lamps needles, Ii chee nuts and
opium tins showed what had been GO
ing on, but the score of innOcent-lOOk-
ing Cinnamon in the place were simply
having a little social gathering. a bit
of opium was found in the ashes and
one man came forward and acknow-
lodged it as his, was arrested and fined
the usual $50 of which all the others
paid their share.
Since then the Yee Wo joint has en-
joyed immunity. Open raids We're evil
IDENTIFY failures. The house of iron had
been built for the purpose of providing
place where opium smoking might be
done in peace and at the first test it
had proved superior to the efforts of
the police. With a bit better arrange
ments for burning up evidence, it be-
came d place of perfect security from
raids.
Yee Wo had fourteen guests last Sa-
turday night, when his outer door was
raped by a rather tall-looking Chinese
From inside the new caller was asked
who he was, and he yelled "Leong
Wong" in answer. The door was open
ed and the man entered. He was ad-
mitted and the door was locked behind
him. He wore an ordinary Chinese
costume, a long black pig-tail, and a
soft hat tilted down over his eyes.
At the second door there came an
other call from within and again ii
was answered by satisfactory assuran-
ces that Leong Wong was the new ar
rival This was repeated at the third
door and then the disguised visitor en-
tered the inner room and stood among
the fourteen Chinese opium smokers,
with three heavy iron doors locked be-
tween him and the street.
A pipe and some opium was brought
to "Leong Wong" AS he was handed
the stuff he Strengthened up and threw
his hat on the back of his head show
ing the features of Deputy Sheriff Chill,
lingworth. The Chinese attendant
dropped the pipe and set up howl OF
CONSERVATION, and the whole joint wa.
aroused. The smokers threw aside
pipes and outfits and scrambled away
from the unwelcome visitor. The de-
putty sheriff had carried to a successful
conclusion a most daring and difficult
scheme.
Nine pipes, IS Ii chee nuts of opium
eight lamps, pair of scales and LOT
of other opium paraphenalia that
makes the catch the biggest of the kinC
ever made here We're seized in the joint
All these were cOnfiscated and three
Chinese, who claimed ownership OF
everything there, were arrested and
this morning paid $50 and costs each
The deputy sheriff left George Sea
and another officer outside when he
went to work his way into the joint
AS soon a he rot inside and had made
himself known the doors We're ordered
openede and the other two officers en-
tered to assist the deputy.
Those who saw Chillingworth in hi!
Chinese outfit say that he made 6
splendid Chinaman and the fact thai
he so deceived the guards shows tina
his disguise must have been a very
perfect one. The name chosen was tina
of a man he was made up to resemble
When you want to write a letter stol
in at the Remington Typwriter Office
Fort street. There are machines TO