This post is attached to the original post if you want to refresh your memory.

Update Nov 21, 2010

My statement from the original post.

“No date and B Chan. I wonder just how many Chan’s lived in Oakland over the years? Sort of like looking for B Smith. I know China Town in Oakland is a big community as they have their own Chamber Of Commerce. If my memory serves me there is another large China Town across the bay in that other big CA city. Too many Chan’s. “

Ok, I admit it! I WAS WRONG! May be the 1st time I was ever wrong!

Read on.

And now “The Rest Of The Story.”

Huge gambling operation and convicted for trading with the enemy (China). Paid San Mateo county officials $15,000 per month in bribes to operate. The gambling houses had guards deputized by the San Mateo sheriff. Operated under dummy corporations and illegal tax maneuvers.

The Palms Casino entrance was in San Francisco County. Limo’s would deliver the players to the front door. They walked through the club into a back room that was in San Mateo County and protected by the payoff’s.

Sam and Harold Nason had this same idea of straddling county lines in Clermont/Hamilton counties, Ohio back in 1937. They were going to use an double wide mobile home but never did put it into use.

Translation: From Mr S.

Left: Wui - remit (or possibly "good for")
Right: Yun - source (of luck or wealth)

Confirmed:
B Chan= Bok Hing Chan
The Palms, Goat Ranch and Cabbage Patch.
SW corner of Waverly & Washington
San Mateo, CA.
1940’s-50’s

Enter my “ Friend Of The Hobby: Geez he is good at this.

Saw your post the other day on the B. Chan chip.

My first thought was: Forget it! It’s Chinatown.
(But I’m too damn curious.)

The chip was delivered to Bok Hing Chan, one of the kingpins of Bay area Chinese gambling circles in the 30’s and 40’s. He came to the US from Canton, China around 1910 and left for Hong Kong in 1953, a fugitive.

380 Vernon was Chan’s residential address from 1939 until he went on the lam in May 1953. During this time he is known to have operated at least these three gambling houses: The Palms, Goat Ranch and Cabbage Patch.

His HQ was a pawnshop in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. The 64 year old Chan got out of dodge after being sentenced to 10 years in Federal prison for income tax evasion.

Forgot to mention that the “Wui” and “Yun” on the chip appears to be the name used by Chan for his gambling operations: spelled “Wai” and “Yuen” in first article.

San Mateo Times—20nov1952 (Chan’s name is written Chin Bock Hing: Chin a variation of Chan; Bock a spelling choice; often with Asian names the last name is written first).

San Mateo Times—22nov1952 (gives description of a raid at The Palms; the club sat on the San Francisco/San Mateo county line; patrons entered on the SF side and gambled on the SM side).

Current view of the site of Chan’s HQ at 159 Waverly (SW corner of Waverly & Washington).