NONE ESCAPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 304, 23 December 1936, Page 3

NONE ESCAPE.

TWO-UP PLAYED.

CITY GAMING CLUB RAID. TWENTY-NINE MEN FINED. Gvifiilasiuni premises in Wyndham Street, known as the Albert Club, were raided by a party of detectives in charge of Detective-Sergeant A. B. Meiklejohn at 0.40 last night, when 20 men were arrested on gaming charges and later appeared before a special Court at the central police station, where they were admitted to bail.

Every in;;-, in the large room was arrested. A few endeavoured to depart by the. lire escape at the rear of the building, and reach a lane below, but detectives were stationed on the fire escape to prevent such an exit. During the execution of a search warrant the police took possession of dice and other ga milling paraphernalia. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn entered by the stairs from Wyndham Street, followed by Detectives Maliood, Aplin, Murcli, Whitcfield, Jones and Turgis, while Detect! ves Brady, Waterson, Ely tin and Coddington entered by the rear lire escape. When he recognised Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn, the doorkeeper attempted to close the door behind him, but the police officer pushed his way through before warning to the others in the room could be given.

This morning Frank Dickson Kussell, salesman, 42, appeared in the Police Court before Mr. Wyvern Wilson. S.M.. charged that being the occupier of premises at 24, Wyndham Street, he used them as a common gaming liouse. Frederick William Batehelor, labourer, aged .">B, and Albert Thomas, barman, aged 4(i, were each charged with assisting in the management of a common gaming house. Mr. J. Terrv appeared for all three defendants, who pleaded guilty. Police Warning Given. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that three weeks ago, not long after a raid had been made upon a gambling school in Swanson Street, the gaming school raided last night started. Kussell was the principal, the other two men being assistants. On December 14 DctectiveSerg'eant Meiklejohn and Detective Maliood visited the premises and warned Kussell he had better close up. However, the club continued and it was strongly barricaded. Last night when the detectives raided the place they found 29 men gathered round a billiard table taking part or watching a game of two-tip that was in progress. Thomas was acting as the croupier'. The room was 80ft long and 20ft wide. Batehelor said he was the doorkeeper-anil received £5 per week. "Jt is quite apparent that this place was fitted up for gambling," added McHugh. "Kussell handed over the dice. He was convicted and lined £30 on December 1 last for using premises as a common gaming house in Hobson Street. On that occasion he was acting as a bookmaker. Batehelor has been associated with these sort of places for some time and lias previously been lined £00 for using premises as a common gaming house, and £3 for being found in a gaming house. Thomas has also been connected with such places and has six previous convictions for gaining hi caches."

"This club was not established for gambling but as a place where men could gather to enjoy billiards," sa\d Mr. Terry. '"Of course when a number of men congregate they seem to indulge in

a. game wJiich seems to be in the makeup of colonials. The club only has a membership of 20, so your Worship will see from this that it is net in a big way. Russell is only the n.a pager, i.nd up until recently he was a salesman in the clothing business, but lie had to give this job up following an injury sustained in an accident." Counsel said Batehelor had been workI ing for a considerable period. Thomas was only a servant. Not Strangers. Mr. Wyvern Wilson said he really should not look upon the men as first offenders, as they h::d been advised by the police to close up, but did not do so. The rooms were barricaded after the warning was given. "I am asked to believe that this is a gentlemen's club — but it isn't," said Mr. Wilson. "I think these men should have been prosecuted before. Russell is no stranger in the business, neither is Batclvlor. Although Batehelor was previously fined for> running a common gaming house, and later with being found in one. that did not deter him, and now he takes an active part." Russell was fined £75, or two months' imprisonment. Batehelor £00, or two months, and Thomas £30 or one month's imprisonment. An order was made for the forfeiture of the gambling gear. Men on Premises. Of the men found on the premises who pleaded guilty and who had clean records, these were each fined £1 and costs. "I am sorry to say the number who fall under this category is small," ifr. Wilson said. "Most of these men have tarnished records for gaming. Some have convictions for theft and drunkenness. Many of them are dissolute persons." The following, charged with being found in a common gaming house, were fined:-—Walter Carrick, £4 and costs; Archibald John McNab, £4 and costs; Joseph Reseter, £4 and costs; Edgar Roberts, £4 and costs; Harry Simons, Walton Victor Roy Smith, George Henry Byron, Robert Whale, Albert Oscar French, £3 and costs; Sydney Poole, Jack Ravi eh, James Cyprian, Andrew Devich and Robert Ferric; £2 and costs, while the following were each fined £1 and cost*: Nicholas Marinovich, Thomas Tichk, Albert Donaldson, Andrew Botica, i Philip George Martin, Walter Edwards, Sydney Georjre Adams. William Alex. Ellis. Carl Tilenian, John Bakalich and Gabal Kara