Philadelphia Inquirer, June 27, 1899View transcription
CHINESE PUZZLE
Camden Police Could Not Decipher an Alleged Policy Slip
FOUND IT ON TACK SING
Prisoner's Friend Explained That the Mysterious Slip Was a Chinese Doctor's Prescription
Tack Sing, a Chinese laundryman of Seventh and Mt. Vernon streets, Camden, was arrested yesterday on a charge of policy writing. He was taken into custody on the street by Policeman Moore. When searched at the City Hall a piece of paper covered with Chinese hieroglyphics was found on his person. Captain Stanley declares that this paper represents a celestial policy slip. Wrapped in the paper was 55 cents in change. There was also a big roll of bank bills and several dollars in silver in his pockets.
City Detective Hart took the slip and money to a Chinese laundry near by. The proprietor stated that the characters on the paper represented a row of figures, and that the 55 cents was the amount played on them.
For the past six weeks Captain Stanley has been endeavoring to unearth an alleged Chinese policy shop in Camden. He finally secured evidence that caused him to make complaint against Tack Sing. He declares, however, that he believes that Sing is but the runner for a Philadelphia house. Captain Stanley has several alleged policy slips in his possession that were bought from the defendant. Nearly all the Chinamen in Camden have been patrons of the game.
The supposed policy slip found on the accused is about six inches square. In the centre are four blocks, each containing twenty characters printed in green ink. Across the face of the numbers are several black blotches and in one corner is a jumble of marks, which the laundryman told Detective Hart stood for 35 cents. Around the edges of the paper are curious marks that are said to represent 908 Race street, Philadelphia.
"It looks like the wrapper for a bunch of fire crackers," remarked Recorder Nowrey, as he looked it over.
Lee Key acted as an interpreter for Tack Sing. He said the alleged policy slip was a prescription for medicine for the toothache and that the 55 cents was to pay for having the prescription filled.
Recorder Nowrey held the accused in $500 bail for a further hearing to-day.
Camden Police Could Not Decipher an Alleged Policy Slip — Found It on Tack Sing — Prisoner's Friend Explained That the Mysterious Slip Was a Chinese Doctor's Prescription
Tack Sing, a Chinese laundryman of Seventh and Mt. Vernon streets, Camden, was arrested yesterday on a charge of policy writing. He was taken into custody on the street by Policeman Moore. When searched at the City Hall a piece of paper covered with Chinese hieroglyphics was found on his person. Captain Stanley declares that this paper represents a celestial policy slip. Wrapped in the paper was 55 cents in change. There was also a big roll of bank bills and several dollars in silver in his pockets.
City Detective Hart took the slip and money to a Chinese laundry near by. The proprietor stated that the characters on the paper represented a row of figures, and that the 55 cents was the amount played on them.
For the past six weeks Captain Stanley has been endeavoring to unearth an alleged Chinese policy shop in Camden. He finally secured evidence that caused him to make complaint against Tack Sing. He declares, however, that he believes that Sing is but the runner for a Philadelphia house. Captain Stanley has several alleged policy slips in his possession that were bought from the defendant. Nearly all the Chinamen in Camden have been patrons of the game.
The supposed policy slip found on the accused is about six inches square. In the centre are four blocks, each containing twenty characters printed in green ink. Across the face of the numbers are several black blotches and in one corner is a jumble of marks, which the laundryman told Detective Hart stood for 35 cents. Around the edges of the paper are curious marks that are said to represent 908 Race street, Philadelphia.
"It looks like the wrapper for a bunch of fire crackers," remarked Recorder Nowrey, as he looked it over.
Lee Key acted as an interpreter for Tack Sing. He said the alleged policy slip was a prescription for medicine for the toothache and that the 55 cents was to pay for having the prescription filled.
Recorder Nowrey held the accused in $500 bail for a further hearing to-day.
