The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-10-12
OPIUM CRUSADE
IS COMMENCED
(From Saturdays Advertiser0

An active crusade against the opium
trade in Hawaii has been commenced
by the Federal authorities, the first
move in the game being the arrest at
Aiea Thursday night of Chinese
named Tong Chau, who is said to have
been doling out the white smokes to
his fellow countrymen of that place.
The trail from Tong Chau's place leads
back to Honolulu and ends, according
to the information of the authorities,
at the Lee Let building and the store
of Yaen Chong, of which Lee Let is
manager. Lee Let has not yet been
arrested, but his store yesterday after
noon was full of customs people and
United States deputy marshals, and de-
velopments are expected soon.
Tong Chau was not arrested on
formal charge of selling opium but of
being unlawfully in the country.
Nevertheless, the authorities found
opium in his place and seized it, and
another charge will undoubtedly be
placed against him.
Since the new Federal law went into
effect prohibiting the importation into
the United States of opium, except for
medicinal purposes and then under the
most stringent regulations, the price of
the poppy drug has risen amazingly.
Five tael tins that formerly sold for
$3.50 are now worth $40 to $2S. and
hard to get at the price. Getting ad-
vance information that the prohibitory
law was to be passed by Congress, some
of the wealthy Chinese of Honolulu,
as well as those of the States, invested
large sums in opium, which they i'm
ported previous to the laws going into
effect. And now they are trying to
reap the harvest.
But the Federal and territorial au-
thorities are holding that the sale even
of opium that was imported before the
law went into effect is unlawful, and
are hot after those who dispose of the
drug.
From Lee Let's Cousin.
Tong Chau, when arrested, confessed
that he had obtained opium from Ho-
nolulu, and being closely pressed, said
that he obtained it from a cousin of
Lee Let.
This was enough for the officials, and
they yesterday threw guard about Lee
Let's place of business and are now
lying for him.
United States District Attorney
Breckons yesterday afternoon refused
to admit that the United States author
titles were after Lee Let. But he did
say that opium was seized from Tong
Chau. The Chinese, he said, made no
opposition to the taking away of their
countryman, but they did object siren.
uously to the seizure of the opium and
Marshal Hendry had hard time get.
ting away with it.
One Shell One Smoke.
Part of the opium seized at Aiea was
in five tael tins. But part of it was
distributed in Smokes" /" Little por.
tions of the viscd stuff had been plac.
ed in flat sea shells, in each one enough
for one smoke. This is enough to con.
Wet the dispenser, even if it is found
by the courts that five tael tins are
original packages and therefore not
subject to seizure.
Lee Let has been in the tolls of the
law before, the charge against him last
time being that of attempted bribery
to obtain police protection for a gam.
bling house. 1t now appears, accord
ing to the statements of the Federal
authorities, that he has turned his at.
tention to the opium business as being
fully as profitable and no more risky
than gambling.