On This Date in Minnesota History: October 17

October 17, 1915 – Within two blocks of the courthouse and police headquarters downtown Minneapolis, police conducted one of the largest raids on Chinese resorts in the history of the city. Through clouds of opium smoke in Kwong Lun Wo and company’s Chinese merchandise store at 246 Fourth Avenue South, dozens of police dragged 27 Chinese outside the building into the open air.

Picking their way through Chinese gambling equipment that is said to rival dens in San Francisco’s palmist days, detectives and patrolmen discovered three complete opium “layouts,” a quantity of opium, probably worth $100, and much beer was seized.

In a far corner of the basement a gambling table was the center of interest. Buttons, thousands of them, were used as chips. Cards, dice and buttons were strewn across the floor.

The owner of Kwon Lun Lo was charged with operating the place. The others were charged with being found in a disorderly house.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “27 Arrested and $100 Opium Seized in Raid; Police Storm Fourth Avenue Chinese Store; Gambling Devices Found”; October 18, 1915; p.1.

Opium Poppies
http://www.opiumaddiction.com/opium-pictures.htm

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