HAZARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1935, Page 9

HAZARDS.

GAMBLING DEN. POLICEMAN PLAYER. SYSTEM OF BELLS. TWO MEN PINED £50. Unknown to those in charge, a policeman paid four visits to an Auckland gambling school last July and took part in games of hazards, two-up and faro. A story of the precautions taken to prevent strangers from entering the school, known as the Auckland National Club, and of an elaborate system of warning bells was told to Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning when Percy Gallagher was charged that, being the occupier of premises at 23. Swanson Street, he knowingly and wilfully permitted such premises to be used as u common gaming house. A second man, Boss Facoory, was charged with assisting in conducting the business of a common gaming house. Both men appeared 011 summons, Gallagher, represented by Mr. 11. J. Terry and Facoory by Mr. F. AV. Schramm. Both men pleaded guilty. Senior Detective S. G. Hall, in telling tho story of the policeman's visits to the gambling school, said that about the middle of last July a constable came to Auckland for the purpose of detecting gambling. He made tho acquaintance of a man, and on July 18 he went to 23, Swanson Street, about 10.30 p.m. The door of the premises was locked and the place was in darkness. "They waited in an alleyway opposite for about a quarter of an hour," continued the senior detective. "Three other men joined them. A light was switched on and the door was opened. The five men went in, after the constable had been vouched for by his friend. They went up to the top floor, where they saw a notice, 'Auckland j National Club. Members Only.' A door was unlocked and the men went through a lounge into a large room where there wore two billiard tables and about 30 men. Man Acting as Croupier. "Facoory was at the centre of the table acting as croupier. Hazards and two-up were being played, and the constable stayed there until about 2.30 a.m. Bets of £1 down to 10/ were frequently made 011 the turn-up. Facoory kept the dice in tho middle pocket of the billiard table. Men were coining and going. A fruit machine which had been declared illegal was played by several men. The windows were heavily draped with black and white curtains. A green beige cloth on the table was marked with numbers and squares." Senior Detective Hall said that Gallagher appeared to be in charge of the place, and he collected 1/ from each ! player every half-hour. He also acted as croupier to relieve Facoory. Again, on July 19 the constable went to the school and stayed from 'J. 30 until 11.30. Hazards were played, and there, were over 40 men in the room. The fruit machine was also played, and Facoory was again acting as croupier. Afte'r; waiting ten minutes, the constable was i again admitted 011 the evening of July j 20, when hazards and faro were played.! Again there were over 40 men in the i room. ! Hazards and two-up were again played at the school 011 July 23, said Mr. Hall. There were about 20 men present, and Facoory was acting as croupier. The constable visited the premises on four different occasions. No stranger was allowed into the place unless recommended by one of the regular clients. On one occasion the policeman saw £30 in notes and £5 in silver in front of one man. Three Bells Arranged. "It was a straight-out gambling joint, and no other games were played," said the senior detective. "There were three bells in operation, one inside the street door, a second 011 the stairway, and a third in a small lounge. The first and second rang into the gaming room and the third into a room fitted up as a bar." Senior Detective Hall said both defendants had been convicted before for breaches of the Gaming Act. The maximum penalty was £100, in default three months in gaol. In defence of Gallagher, Mr. Terry said the premises were known as the National Club and they had been used as a club for the past 30 years. Membership was not by annual subscription and those in charge thought it better to charge 1/ every half-hour. Gallagher was only a steward on a small weekly wage. He was not the proprietor. On behalf of Facoory, Mr. Schramm said it was not the purpose of the club to stage gambling games. There had been no complaints from people in the locality as to the conduct of the premises. "Well, I've decided that the place was used for straight-out gambling games," said Mr. Hunt. "If these men are not the owners somebody else is getting the profits and perhaps somebody else vviiJ pay the fines." Both men were fined £50, with the alternative of three months in gaol.