TRAPPERS' WILES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 151, 24 December 1930, Page 6

TRAPPERS' WILES

THE GAMING POLICE

THEIR PLAN OF CAMPAIGN

SYDNEY'S RECORD RAID

Dressed as nonchalant sportsmen "who had dropped in for a little quiet speculation on the way home from the Saturday afternoon game of tennis, gaming police in flannels and blazers recently carried off Australia's record raid on illegal bettors at Kensington, New South Wales. It will probably be a long time before the record capture of 230 men is broken, writes T. O'Conncll in the "Daily Pictorial. 1' To the average person the raid was of no more than ordinary interest, but to the police authorities in the different States it demonstrated how their departments can move with the times and meet subterfuge with subterfuge —only on a more scientific scale. The promoters of illegal betting or gambling schools usually work under an elaborate cover of caution. Many have learnt from experience to suspect a stranger in their midst, but the attraction of a bigger following, with greater takings, seldom fails to out.weigh any suggestion that their activities are under observation. Sydney's spectacular coup has'shown the vigilance of its police against this form of gaming. In Melbourne, however, the gaming squad, led by Detec-tive-Sergeant Doeley, is none the less efficient in alertness and ingenuity in keeping the menace under control. Realising that the followers of these schools ■must be met at their own game, the gaming police naturally are obliged to resort to any means of disguise to obtain admittance to schools that are to be broken up. MANY DISGUISES. In fact, .behind the scenes they have a varied collection of "props" that would do justice to the wardrobe of a "character study" vaudeville artist. Torn and tattered clothes of almost historic origin predominate, for the gaming police must be ready at short notice to mingle with a betting crowd or two-up school as tramps, "coalies," seamen, or other role, to suit the company, • Unless the stranger in the camp has: a natural and disarming demeanour, his chances of being allowed to remain are small. Several years ago Melbourne police carried out an unconventional raid, which, not so theatrical as the Sydney episode, established' a cateh-as-cateh-can precedent for a gaming raid. For a long time a two-up school had been active at the coal wharf, near, the Victoria Dock compound, and in spite of constant vigilance, the police had been unable to obtain admittance. "Nit-keepers," or scouts, with kerosene tins on string, stood at corners of the Flinders street extension, and at the approach of a uniformed constable or anyone who aroused suspicions, they Tattled the tin along the ground. DISAPPEARED. Immediately the kip and pennies were spirited away, loaving a crowd of 50 or 60 discussing the- weather or some other pleasant topic. Determined to break up the school, Detective-Sergeant Deeley and Detective Cavanagh commandeered a steam roller and trailer from a contracting firm, nnd near Spencer street a slow and noisy ride began to the ..wharf. Constable Biddington was1' the driver, Cavanagh the- perspiring and grimy stoker, while tho tarpaulin-eovorcd trailer contained a score of police. When alongside the two-up school, the steam roller rattled to a standstill, and the contents, of tho trailer poured out.. Then followed a wild scatter into the coal hulks and baskets; a few escaped, but . M players, including, the manager of the school, contributed liberally to the State's revenue. About this time the amusing raid at a circus was made. Quite unconscious of the fact, the circus animals were the unappreciative witnesses of one of tho most stirring gaming police episodes staged in ...Victoria. The suspicion that a game was in progress .in the. circus, grounds, unknown to' the management, from midnight on Saturday until early on Monday morning was later replaced by the definite information that the school met in the elephants' tent, while the elephants were slumbering peacefully after the performance. -FOR THE FENCES. A plain clothes party was selected, mostly of tall constables, because more than one high fenco had to be negotiated as expeditiously as possible when the signal was given. Everything went according to the plan of attack until the elephants' tent was reached. Here an unexpected development nearly turned the raid into a burlesque. It was intended, if possible, not to disturb the sleepers. Surprised, however, by the suddenness of the police entry, the players ran in panic whereever escape was suggested—and the only way under the canvas lay across the broad backs of the elephants. Awakened so abruptly, they lumbered to their feet and roared their disapproval in deafening chorus until the rest of the circus took up the paude-' monium, while pursuers and pursued raced through tho grounds. The excitement was over in ten minutes, after which the players were located in their hiding-places on top of cages or under circus matting. More than 20 paid finos averaging £3. ■Victoria's record gaming raid of 169 at Fisherman's Bend is the nearest approach to Sydney's 230. Disguises were freely used the raid«rs being mostly seamen and carters for the occasion. Here the lighter touch was supplied by several fugitives, hiding in a pit at the rifle butts nearby, who invitedj a dishevelled constable to share their "possie until the cops cleared." ■ ..'