SHOP STORMED

Evening Star, Issue 22629, 22 April 1937, Page 13

SHOP STORMED

BY JUDGE AND POLICE. HIS HONOUR AMONG THE BAMS. The recent Royal Commission on the police and starting-price betting prosecutions spent two, hours in a smallgoods shop in Sydney, It was there in 1933 that police alleged that W. G. Mowlds, then the proprietor of the shop, was caught betting. Mr* W. Sneahau, tor ex-Sergeant Gallivan and ex-Constables Nelson and Perrett, who are accused of “ framing ” Mowlds, requested Judge Marked to visit the shop to make a further inspection to ascertain -whether it was possible to see a man at the telephone sending away bets as had been alleged against Mowlds. When the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. J. Mackay) sent word to Police Headquarters from the Commission that six police cars were wanted urgently outside the Commonwealth Savings Bank, the drivers suspected that a raid had beep carried put by robbers. In a few minutes police cars drew up at the bank, but the consternation caused among the pedestrians was nothing to the contusion when the Commission’s party, numbering 31, - stormed the shop. In addition to Judge Markell and the secretary of the commission (Mr G. Woqlston), all the legal representatives, including Mr Windeyer, K.C., and Mr Piddington, K.C., were present. Two police carpenters were also asked to be present; ... When the Royal Commission took possession of the shop, customers had difficulty in entering, and Mr Mackay said that in justice to the owner, only, one representative from each of the parties concerned should remain inside. The telephone was at the rear of the ■shop, near a staircase, and while Mr Piddington,. K.C., stood at the telephone assuming the rule of a bookmaker, Judge Markell stood where the police alleged they., watched Mowlds. Hams dangled over and about Ins head as he peered through the door and through the crack made near the hinges., It was said that the door could be opened back to the wall. when Mowlds occupied the shop, but this was not possible now, as shelves blocked it. 41 Remove the commanded Mr Mackay to the police carpenters. Strings of hams were hurriedly taken down, and soon the shelves were knocked out. . . Meanwhile the proprietor was trying to explain to his customers and to the crowd' collected in front of the shop that what was happening was not through, anything he had done. One nervous woman peered through the main door and asked anxiously it “ anyone had been hurt. 1 Anothei inquired‘ if an auction sale was m progress and the shop was being uismantled. This last question greatly concerned the owner, and he asked the police and solicitors to make public the real reason for the sudden storming of his shop.