The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-09
LECTURE: To
GAMBLERS
Fan Tar, Players
Given No
Mercy.
JUDGE De BOLT
SCORES BANKER
Twenty-Three Chinese Were Corr
victed Yesterday in the
Circuit Court.

L OAfACoO 6QlhDlia5 6dmC5 WCIS RlNSI
decided setback in the circuit court
yesterday when Judge De Bolt imposed
a fine Of 500 on a banker in fan tan
game, and fine of $40 each upon
twenty other Chinese who had partic-
ipated in the game. The fine as to the
players was the same as imposed by
Judge Wilcox, but Judge De Bolt
doubled the sentence of the banker
stating that he was morally response
BILE for the guilt of the others.
The severe sentence after conviction
will be much of disbursement to
the Chinese gambling fraternity who
in the past, have been escaping pun
ishment through Judge Gears kind re-
gard for "technicalities." The whole
sale conviction of yesterday may. per-
haps, counteract some of the influences
set at work by the second judges adj
vice to protect themselves from the
forcible entry of a police officer with
out a warrant.
There was also in the trial of the
Chinese an interesting demonstration
of the game of fan tan, several experts
being offered by the defense to show
that several essential parts of the
game were lacking at the house in
Pawaa where the arrests were made.
Officer All On was the first witness
called, but his knowledge of the game
was neither as wide nor as comprehen-
siye as that of Willie Crawford, the
next witness called by the defendants.
Crawford took the material at hand,
several varieties of buttons, a wand, a
cup, and a board improvised for the
occasion, and proceeded to explain the
details to expectant jurors and attor-
neys. 1.-THE banker has the buttons in
a heap on the table," said Crawford,
and conceals them under the cup.
The players bet on one of four num-
bers, one, two, three, four, and, when
all bets are placed, the banker, with
the wand, counts out the buttons four
at time. The number remaining sig
nifies the winner of the pot, which
may be of equal value or three times
tho nf he OF ha,, h
err" explained Crawford, "has a sure
thing, getting 10 per cent of the stakes,
with which he pays employees. All
four numbers are played only in case
the banker is a capitalist and can af-
ford to pay heavy losses"
A number of the defendants were
placed on the stand to explain their
presence at the gambling house. Lee
Tai said he was lying down" and
hadn't seen any game in progress,
though quite crowd was in the room
Akana said he was present. but had
come in to smoke opium. Ayin said
he had 'tjust stopped for chat and
in answer to question from the
court as to whether it was a pleasant
place. answered.: 1T was quite COOL"
All Kin, who said he was a cook en-
ployed by Mrs. Smith," testified that
he had finished work and went up to
sit down." The jury was out but a few
minutes before agreeing upon a YER
dict of guilty, and the defendants an
nounced themselves ready to receive
sentence. 1919
1T don't seem to me that Chinese
are the only men who gamble said
Judge De Bolt, "but they are appar-
emily the only ones arrested. 1t does
not appear to me as wrong for these
men to take part in game as it is for
the man who conducted it. If all of
these gambling houses were closed and
the games broken up it would be of
great benefit to the poor people of the
city. The fine of $40 shall stand as to
all OF these defendants, excepting Lee
Tai, the banker, who, I think, is the
cause OF all the evil, and he is fined
300 and costs. l would advise you,
Lee Tai, to turn your attention
to some honest work, and not
entiee these poor people into your
place to gamble. AS to the re-
naming defendants, would advise
you to lay gambling aside and apply
your money to some useful purpose.
would say further to those who testi-
fed at these trials, that when you ap-
pear in court of justice, tell the
truth"
Half dozen of the defendants paid
their fines, Clerk Kellett and Bailiff
Hopkins for time taking the place Of
Lee Tai as bankers.