Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-20
SMASH DOORS IN
CHINATOWN RAID
Police Swoop Down on Alleged
Gambling DenS and
Swing PiCkaxes
BATTER IN IRON BARRIERS
Proprietors of Three Houses Ar
rested, and Much Gaming
ParaphernaIia Seized

From four different quarters China
town was bombarded last night, and
the laundering of sledge hammers and
the splintering caused by pickaxes
aroused the entire neighborhood. 1T
was a raid on the Chinese gambling
dens, and of the four places visited
evidence said to be sufficient to convict
was obtained in three places.
The places raided were 436 Sanchez
alley Wong Sing, proprietor; 524
August alley, All Chez, proprietor; 524
North Los Angeles street, All Ching,
proprietor; 51S North Los Angeles
street, Fong Chong, proprietor the
place at 518 North Los Angeles street
was found deserted when the raiders
entered, but in the other places were
nineteen men and one woman.
The raid was spectacular, the most
interest being at All Chee's place, which
is recognized as the most notorious of
the gambling dens in Chinatown. 1t
took twenty minutes to batter down
the iron bound doors to gain entrance,
and after a search of an hour and a
half, during which the house was bat
tered and looked as II struck by a
meteor from HALEY comet the much
coveted lottery tickets were unearthed.
TRAP INGENIOUS
The trap In which they were hidden
was ingenious. After partition after
partition had been torn down a loose
panel in the woodwork along the hall
way was found. It raised up and down
like a wipdow, and there was similar
panel at the other end. Behind these
the lottery tickets and outfit were
located.
While searching this place Patrolman
Erwin started to knock down small
loft about fifteen feet from the floor
on which was piled rubbish and debris.
After two blows had been struck
smothered sound came from ABOVE ana
a voice called out, "Doan struck no
noah, Use comining down." and negro
shambed to the floor. His hiding place
had been discovered.
At 524 August alley the same resist
ance in gaining entrance was met, ana
as one of the Chinese was running
through the hallway followed by Pa
trolman Willetts he tossed a bundle or
lottery tickets through an open window
right into the waiting arms of Patrol
man Mosher, who was on guard out
side.
THICK DOOR RESISTS
The greatest resistance was met at
436 Sanchez alley, where an oaken door
five inches thick, reinforced by iron
bolts and panels, was battered before
entrance was gained. The delay af-
II
forded the willy Celestials an opportun-
! ity to burn the evidence, but nine men
were found in the place.
The raid led by Sergt. Sebastian was
well planned. Automobiles were used
to make a quick trip from central police
headquarters, an innovation in China
town raids. The four attacks were
made simultaneously, and with such
celerity that the underground systems
and telephone service used by the
Chinese were of no avail
AS the autos arrived at the various
places and started to enter other mem
bers of the Chinatown squad guarded
the doors and windows to see no one
escaped and that the evidence could
not be thrown from the windows or let
out by the various chutes, with which
the gambling houses are fitted.
The three proprietors were released
on $1OO bail each, and the inmates ball
at $40 each, in default of which most
of them passed the night in police head
quarters to await trial this morning.