HIGH STAKES

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 19

HIGH STAKES

.-; GAMBLING FOR CHARITY

; Gaming parties in aid of-hospitals {are likely to be severely discouraged ;by charity organisers, as the'result of ;hicidents alleged to have taken place jit one of these affairs recently, says a ;?'Daily Telegraph" writer. >• After this party one of tho losers, Sir/Keith 11. Williams, gave instructions that a cheque that he had made out-, for a substantial sum should be ■femporarilv stopped while he made certain, inquiries. I was told at Mr. Williams'* fist that' he has placed thematter in the hands of his solicitors.

<-' Mr. Batey, Soc./Spennymoor, w ill ask 'the Home Secretary..in tho House of Commons "if the attention of the [police has been directed to the gambi]in|f and drinking party which was organised by the Ivory Cross National Dental Aid Fund on December, 5; and Whether . any action is to be taken against those persons who are known to have been present, seeing that 30s each was paid for a ticket of admission, for which free drinks were supplied, and gaming tables wero supplied."

- The names of the guests included people' from, all spheres ot life, and ■ever'aL.Trell-known peers. Th» organisers "TV,ere Lord Hindlip, Lady'Clevelana,'knd Mr. John Trevor, & prominent London,estate agent. Lord Hindlip told me that, in view of the attention aroused, it' would- be difficult to arrange another such party.' ' £50,000 INVOLVED. „ "During the last lew years I have volunteered my services for a considerable number of these parties," he saidv "I have helped to raise between £20,000'and £30,000 for hospitals in London. ' " "Theso parties arc entirely private, and admission to them is only by invitation. A . different venue is chosen for each, and I am informed that they are quite within tho- law. <\ "Twelve months ago the Home Secretary was asked in the-House of Commons about parties of this kind. Ho replied that the police could .not takeproceedings in respect of games played t>n isolated occasions in a private house, which is not a common gaming-house, or a house kept for the purpose of unlawful gaming. ■ "The, only point which distinguished the Sundqrland House affair from others of a similar nature was that the stakes vere rather higher than usual. It is believed that about £50,000 changed hands. " Statements ..that Scotland Yard are interested in^what took place are, I believe, ridiculous: "N.eithor I, nor any oilier of the 'organisers, ' has been approached by the police. "On the other hand we have, I think, been doing very.good work for charity. But in view of what has happened I do not feel particularly inclined to help in the organisation of any more parties of this kind."