RAIDS IN AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1912, Page 3

RAIDS IN AUCKLAND

SURPRISE VISITS BY POLICE NEARLY EIGHTY PERSONS ARRESTED. [BT TELECSBAPK — PEESS ASSOCIATION/} AUCKLAND, 9th April. Sub-Inspector Hendry, assisted by Sergeant O'Grady, Detective Scott, and nine constables, headed a raid to-day on Ryan's billiard saloon. A large number of men were found on the premises, and others came in later. In all about twenty-five persons were here placed under arrest, besides the owner of *he establishment. After the doors were secured all the men on the premises were searched, with the object of obtaining documentary evidence of betting. Some took objection to being searched, whilst others began to make excuses for being on the promises; but with the exercise of some tact the police _ convinced those present of the. necessity of a search being conducted, and they then submitted with as good a grace as possible. While the police were in charge of the piemises several persons knocked at the door and demanded admittance. They were told by the plain-elothee constable at the door that the;/ 1 could not come iv, but th^y were persistent. '•What rot," some of them exclaimed, "we must go in" ; while others made use of stronger expressions. Their desire to gain admission was gratified, but their regret at the circumstance was strongly depicted on their faces when they were promptly placed under arrest U6 v result of their persistency. . '' The premises of Taylor and Porter, in Cocmbee Arcade, were visited by Senior-Sergeant M'Kinnon and three constable*-. There were no incident of .any note to record. The occupiers of the premises and six other persons were arrested, and all the books on the promises wei'e Mized. Sergeant Bird and two constables raided the premises of Daniel Twohill, in Coombes Arcade. The occupier and thirteen others, including a woman, were placed under arrest, and the usual search was made. Sergeant Ferguson was in , charge of the raid on Weston and Richaids' premises in the British Buildings. The two principals and twenty-five others were arrested. An, amusing incident took place .in the office of one of the places raided. A' burly sergeant was sitting at the table when a middle-aged woman entered with the utmost confidence. It is" understood she walked up to the sergeant and put a half -sovereign on the table, saying : "'Half a, sovereign on Masterpiece, please." "Right, I'll take it," said the sergeant, and he put the money in his pocket. The lady was much surprised when she was enlightened .by, the sergeant as to his identity. "Oh," she remarked, amidst her confusion, "I thought you were a partner of the firm." The- sergeant concerned certainly ha& a sportsmanlike appearance, but whether he felt comi>liniented or otherwise by the remark has not been stated." The raid was, in point of number ot prisoners taken, the biggest, or one of the biggest, ever effected in New Zealand. The large number (nearly eighty) of prisoners taxed the police station to the utmost, and it was not long before the watchhouse was insufferably hot. It was jioon alniost impossible to carry on formalities in the restricted space, and the whole of the huge party was conducted in an official and orderly manner to the police gymnasium. l n this impromptu court the Justices saw the prisoners and signed their bail bonds. The victims of the vigilance of the law were apparently quite happy. It was not long before the air of athleticism proper to a good gymnasium appealed to them, and. they forthwith, picked sides, tailed on to a long rope and had a tug-of-war. Nobody know 6 who won. Nobody knows whether the men who were arrested for gambling made side bets on the event. If the ruling spirit were strong enough to conquer the influence of legal authority its voice was very still and 6mall, and no money changed hands. lfc was natural that sorao at. least of the captured ones should try to warn others approaching, and in. one case . a man called out to a visitor to go away if he valued his liberty. The newcomer at once used his best efforts to leave, but a constable waylaid him while still on the premises and brought him back. Most of the men took the affair very philosophically, and seemed rather to enjoy the discomfiture of those- freshly added to their ranks. The women were the most distressed. The principals were released upon, a bond of £200 each, and those found on the premises in bonds of £10. .All will appear in court to-morrow, when it is probable that an adjournment ' will be asked for.