GAMING RAID ENORMOUS PROFITS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 10

GAMING RAID ENORMOUS PROFITS

LETTERS FROM -VICTIMS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 17th January. Roy M'Kay and William Marshall Grose, principals of the West End gaming establishment ■in Wilton-crescent, have been Tined £500 or three months' imprisonment. Although the fine is the maximum amount, yet it is only a 3iriall fraction of what these men hove made by unlawful gaming. The raid was successfully made on 16tli December. Driving up in motorcars and taxis, the police rushed upstairs, and surprised a party of ladies and' gentlemen, seated in a large draw-ing-room,' playing the game chemin de f er. The counters in piay ' and reserve amounted to over £10.000, the values of the counters being indicated* by colours, and varied from 10s to £100. According to the statement of Detective M'Cooey, observations in mufti were conducted as a West End clubman, all the patrons of the establishment were Of social' standing, and included some persons of title. It appeared that the premises were let furnished at a rental of £77 a month, and there is no doubt that the men were concerned in other premises in Lower Sloane-sfcreet. Both M'Kay and Grose are undischarged bankrupts. THE DISCREET OFFICER. Mr. Muskfitt detailed how the police obtained admission. At 5.30 p.m. on 12th December Detective M'Cooey was let' in by the doorkeeper, Pratt. The officer asked to see Mr M'Kay, and- was shown to the smoke-room on the ground floor. M'Kay entered and the officer mentioned tho llaiMe of a lady of position as a passport, and in the course of the conversation which ensued M'Kay said : "We have to be so very careful whom we. let in here:" The discreet officer then made as if he were about to leave | the premises, whereupon M'Kay said, ! "Oh. don't go ; come up ■ and have a game." The detective was then taken up into the drawing-room on the first fioorj where he found gathered together seven ladies and five men playing the game of ' chemin de f er, a form of baccarat, without doubt by case law an unlawful game. On that afternoon the defendant Grose was 'acting as croupier. As the game was in progress, M'Kay said to the officer "How many 'chips' do you want?' He replied that £5 would be enough. "Take a pony," said M'Kay, throwing down counters representing £25. No money passed, the practice evidently being to pay for . the counters 1 at the tfnd of the afternoon or evening play. M'Cooey took his £25, and after staking very moderately and losing £7 he made lan excuse and left -after handing over the remainder of the counters and paying what he had lost. About 6.30 oti the afternoon of the next day the same officer again called, being shown in, to .the smokc-^oom, where lie awaited M'Kay. This time M'Kay had evidently heard ' something, and was clearly suspicious of his 'Visitor, . for he said; "I really cannot let you upstairs to-night. We , have to ;be extremely careful. 'I am- very sorry. This is more of an afternoon place. We always play here from tea time to dinner time! Within .a comparatively shorty time Superintendent Kitch arrived with a search warrant, and the raid took place. | Toy the 'superiiitendent, M'Kay said : "I, I am tho'prihcipaL and will take all responsibility." LETTERS FROM WELL-KNOWN-PEOPLE. The police seized' a quantity of papers, and, , without mentioning names, .'Mr. Muskett read a few extracts to show the enormoue sums which the defendants M'Kay and Grose were making by keep ing .the ' eetabliehments running. Ono letter; written to Groee, read : My young friend . . . told dip lie came in on Saturday and started a little game. He had no idea of what he had , lpst, and , as you are a pal of mine, treat him nicely ! Will you accept six cheques for £50 each? If you will do this I will get him to do it at once. Ho is quite a nice young fellow, and only too anxious to do what is right and. proper. He got rather out of his dep-th:" Another ran : "Deal 1 Mr. Grose. — I am enclosing you a fresh cheque for £95, and you can return me the one for £160. I must ask^ you to hold this for a day or two, until this ■ business in Paris is completed." Another communication, addressed to M'Kay under date Oth. December, and found in hie bedroom, read : "I send you < herewith cheque for £600, as promised, : on account of tho £1200. ' You can imagine how much ekep I have had. With compliments to you and that wretch of a Crowse." (Laughter.) 1 "Whether the writer is referring to the defendant' Grose,: i don't- know," eaid Mr. Muekett. Bank paying-in slips discovered showed that a sum of £9047 10b had , been paid into the London County and Westminster Bank in the name of A. M'Kay. Several of tho' cheques sent had been dishonoured. References to . cheques of £722 and £635 were also made by Mr. Muskett. Tho writer of a letter accompanying the £635 cheque said : — "Am feeling rotten to-day. Are you" playing this evening? If so, may I run round V* Another letter ran : — "Have told my young friend'; — - to come round. H« won't play . high, but knows everyone worth anything in London. He is very discreet, and a rattling good fellow. I may come in myself on Saturday afternoon, with, a 'weathered pal.'" (Laughter.) To' exemplify the gambling that went On among women, "Mr. Muskett proceeded to read letters from ladies who had lost large sums at the house. One well-known lady wrote :—"I: — "I am going to ask you a great favour, whether you can let my £1000 I lost laet night stand to the end of the month, as .1 have practically no money of my allowance left. After all, I have been a very, ' reliable gambler, ac you ha^e always been able to cash my cheques. I know quite well that has hot been fo with many of your people. I will 'do my utmoet to pay before the first of thp month.. I presume you will be good enough to let it stand till then." Both M'Kay and Grose paid their fines.