Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-25
POLICE STORM
EIGHT CHINESE
GAMING HOUSES
BARRICADED DOORS FORCED
WITH HAMMERS
WHITE MEN OFFER RESISTANCE
TO PATRoLMEN
Rading Party Finds Lottery Tickets
and other Evidence of Gambling.
Thirty Persons Taken to
Station

H IGHT alleged Chinese gambling
IL houses in the Chinatown district
were simultaneously raided last
night-the biggest raid ever made in
that district--and after two hours of
work sufficient evidence was obtained,
according to the police, to make con-
victions in every case.
Seven Chinese proprietors of alleged
gambling dens were arrested, together
with twenty-three white men, who
were in the resorts at the time of the
raids, and all were booked at police
headquarters, the owners of the places
being released on furnishing $3.50 bail,
with the exception of ]. 7. Wong, who
was held without bail. Wong appeared
before Police Judge Chambers in April
and was found guilty Of conducting a
lottery game and sentenced to serve
ninety days on the chain gang, but ap-
pealed the case, which is to be tried
before Judge Willis Saturday morning
As the result of the raid several
warrants were issued for other pro-
prietors of lottery dens, which will be
served tomorrow morning.
For several days a quiet investiga-
tion of the gambling evil has been
made in the Chinatown district, and
sufficient evidence was obtained to
grant applications for search warrants.
Sebastian Leads Raid
The raid was under the personal su-
pervlsion of Sergeant Charles Il. Sc
bastian of the Chinatown squad, as
sited by patrolmen from central sta
tlon. Shortly after 8 O'Clock the pa
trolmen gathered and were detailed by
Sergeant Sebastian to the following
places: 4S2 Sanchez alley, 430 Sanchez
alley 213 Ferguson alley, All North
Los Angeles street, 747 Alameda street
742 Alameda street. 51S North Los An
geles street, 3211a Marchessault street.
Chinatown was taken unawares,
when the bluecoats appeared from
every corner, and celestials bobbed out
of every conceivable place, to watch
the happenings. The fact that the raid
had been well planned upset the usual
caution of the willy gamblers, and the
order of Sergeant Sebastian that efforts
be made to stop the use of telephones
in every place was responsible for the
success of the raid.
That the alleged Chinese gamblers
had taken every precaution to prevent
entrance was manifest, especially in
the case of the raid at 430 Sanchez al
ley, which place is said to be con-
Quoted by ]. T. Wong, one of the most
notorious gamblers operating in Los
Angeles and against whom several
convictions have been made.
Hammer Used on Door
Patrolman Willett attempted to
storm the door leading into the room.
| where the alleged gambling takes
place. while other officers guarded the
various exits. For twenty minutes the
sturdy patrolman welded a sledge-
hammer in an attempt to gain en-
trance, but the barricaded door was
not opened. Through the key hole of
the door could be seen light but not
until the willy Wong, who is said to
operate the place, had opportunity to
dispose of evidence was the door
opened.
Seated inside were five white men
and two celestials, and the proprietor
jollied the officers and dared them to
find evidence.
The place was as strongly built as
| any garrison. The outer door was four
inches in thickness and barred and
bolted in such manner that sledge-ham-
mers would have had but little effect.
After a search lasting half an hour q
number of lottery tickets were located
under a mattress, and S evidence had
been obtained previously, Wong and
his head clerk. r. Chan, together with
the five white men, were sent to po-
lice headquarters.
Patrolman Uses Billy
A small partition, cut away near the
floor of the rear room. showed where
/
while the officers were attempting to
gain entrance.
At 432 Sanchez alley the access was
/ more easy, and a hot stove showed
where the supposed gambling outfits
had been disposed of. but as evidence
had been collected before, according to
| the police, Wong Sing and r. Tung
were booked at police headquarters and
released on $3.50 bonds.
| At 51S North Los Angeles street the
real fight happened when Patrolman
Curtin of the Chinatown squad at
| tempted to enter and was opposed by
| a number of white men, who are said
to have been patrons of the Chinese
lottery dens.
By the use of his billy Curtin finally
entered and Chew Sick. the proprietor.
and a number of white men, were
bundled into the "hurry-up" wagon
and sent to police headquarters.
No Tong War in Los Angeles
| The raids in the other places were
of a similar nature, all tending to show
the cleverness which is used in barri-
cading the gambling joints in China
town.
The raid demonstrated that there will
be no tong" war in Los Angeles, such
as has been carried on in San Fran
cisco, Fresno. Portland and other cities
along the Pacific coast. The Chinese
have learned to fear the police in Los
Angeles and have not dared to commit
murders and outrages, which have
characterized the Chinese districts of
other cities.
The names of the alleged proprietors
of the supposed gambling houses ar
rested last night were given as Chew
| Sick, 51S North Los Angeles street:
Woo Chong, 321 1-2 Marchessault street;
! Wong Wing, 213 Ferguson alley ]. T.
Wong and r. Chan. 43O Sanchez alley;
Wong Sing and r. Tung. 492 Sanchez
street.