A POLICE RAID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15899, 10 April 1912, Page 11

A POLICE RAID.

SUSPECTED GAMBLING PREMISES. NEARLY EIGHTY ARRESTS. rPua PiiESS Association.] AUCKLAND, April 9. Between 2.30 and three'o’clock this afternoon four detachments of police, under Sub-Inspector Hendry, SemorSergeant M’Kinnon, Sergeant Ferguson (of the water front police), and Sergeant Bird simultaneously raided the premises occupied by John Ryan, billiard saloon keeper, Vulcan Lane; Robert Porter and Charles Taylor, Coombe s Arcade; Lofty Richards and John AAeston, British Buildings, and Daniel Twohill, Coombe's Arcade, respectively, and detained all persons found in them, on charges of being found in common gaming houses. The police arrangements were evidently complete in every detail, and the four raids were made at precisely the same moment. When all the persons found on the premises in question, together with the principals, had been taken to the police station, it was found that nearly eighty had been arrested. They were brought before Justices, who let them all out on bail. The principals were released upon a bond of £2OO each, and tlioso found on the premises in bonds of £lO. All will appear in Court to-morrow, when, it is probable an adjournment will. be asked for.

Sub-Inspector Hendry, assisted by Sergeant O'Grady, Detective Scott and nine constables', headed the raid 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 hero placed under arrest, besides the owner of the 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 premises, 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 under the circumstances. While the police were in charge of the premises several persons knocked at the door and demanded admittance. They were told they could not come in by the plain clothes constables at the door, but they 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 as a result of their persistency. The premises of Taylor and Porter in Coo nib ovs -Arcade were visited by Se-nior-Sergeant M'Kinnon and three constables. There was no incident of any note to record. The owners of the premises and six other persons were arrested. All the books on the premises were seized. 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 Richards’ promises 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 [nit a half-sovereign on tlie table,

saving “ Half sovereign on Masterpiece, please.” “Right I’ll' take it, said the sergeant, and he put the money in Ills pocket. Tho lady was much surprised when she Wes enlightened by the sergeant 'as to his identity. “ Oh,” she remarked amidst lier confusion. “I thought you were a partner ,of the firm”’ '' ' :' J

The raid was in point of number’of prisoners taken the biggest, or one of the biggest, ever effected in New Zealand. The large number of prisoners taxed the police station to the utmost, and it was not long bofore the watch* house was insufferably hot. It, was almost impossible to carry, on formalities in the restricted space, and the whole huge party was conducted, in an offioinl and orderly manner to the gymnasium of the force. -In this impromptu Court the Justices saw the prisoners and signed their bail bonds: The victims of the -vigilance of ths law were apparently quite happy. Ib was pot 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.

It was natural that some 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 awpy if 'lie valued his liberty. Tlie newcomer at once used his bc-st 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 disoomfiture of those freshly added to their ranks. The women were the most distressed. •