SEATTLE MINISTER OUTWITS WILY ORIENTALS

Former Missionary Translates Window Card Gambling Invitations -- Tells Police -- Successful Raids Made.

That several hundred successful gambling raids had been conducted in Seattle and other Pacific Coast cities as a result of a Seattle minister's translation of signs in the Chinese language displayed in windows of Oriental "business houses," was announced at police headquarters today.

Realizing the obvious unfamiliarity of the police with the import of what looked like enlarged laundry tickets, Chinese proprietors of gambling resorts placed cards in their windows, the hieroglyphics inscribed on which informed the passing Oriental that within was an opportunity to indulge in the various methods of gambling favored by his race.

In many of the Asiatic countries drinking water is kept in a receptacle made from the skin of a domestic animal. The common proffer of hospitality to the stranger in the Far East is to enter and have a drink of waver. Literally interpreted, the welcome greeting of the host in some of those countries is "The hide is open," which would be equivalent to a Seattle suburbanite's invitation to a passing pedestrian with whom he has exchanged confidences anent the weather, to come in and have a little of the Cedar River's best.

The signs in most of the Seattle Chinese gambling houses were translated "The hide is open," or "The skin is open," giving welcome to the passerby. When that passerby happened to be a Chinese and afte a campaign of education, when he happened to be a Japanese, he knew that the welcome meant that games of chance could be found inside.

Another explanation than that of the hospitality of the Far East for the literal interpretation of the sign was suggested by the police in the fact that in many instances the peculiar counters used in Chinese gambling games are kept in a leather bag made from the skin of an animal.

Captain of Police L.J. Stuart, in charge of Precinct No. 1, told the story of the assistance given to Sergt. Fred Smart's plain clothes squad by the minister is withheld by the police in the belief that a disclosure of his identity would decrease the value of his assistance. Captain Stuart said the minister was a missionary in the Orient for many years and speaks and reads the Chinese and Japanese languages.

Helps Other Cities.

He is officially connected with the Japanese Association of the Pacific Coast and his work in the assistance of the police has been largely based on the theory that large numbers of Japanese laborers contribute part of their earnings to the gaming table of the Chinese gambler. He has assisted the police in the same manner in at least three Coast cities besides Seattle.

For weeks while the campaign of successful raids was going on, the Chinese, alleged to be gaming house proprietors, were at a loss to understand how the police were making 100 per cent hits, but the yellow man, who has achieve something of a reputation "for ways that are dark and tricks that are vain," finally discovered the secret.

As a squad of police entered a Chinese business place in Canton Alley the proprietor casually took the card from his window and smiled a wily smile as he asked, "What is a malla?" Not a trace of gambling paraphernalia was found in his place.

The police believe the minister had been followed to his home and his work uncovered.