BREAKING LONDON’S LAW BREAKERS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6868, 25 March 1929, Page 10

BREAKING LONDON’S LAW BREAKERS

LORD EYNG UNDERTAKES TASK Or GIVING LIGHT AND AIR TO DARK CORNERS. Lord Byng of Vimy has applied himself to the task of giving light and air to the darker corners of nocturnal London, writes tho London correspondent of the Melbourne ‘Argus.’ As a beginning lie has been compelled to effect some reforms within the London police force. A former inspector, by name Goddard, lias been convicted of having received bribes from the proprietors of night clubs, while Mrs. Mcvrick and Luigi Ribuffi, two managers, have been sentenced for having attempted to bribe the police. Several night club proprietors have filed rather than face possible prosecution. Within a month Scotland Yard hoped to have rid the West End of these undesirables. Since the raids began several night clubs have placed steel grids over their doors, so that doubtful patrons mayibo inspected being being admitted. In some night clubs it is said that artificial fountains have been installed, into which alcohol drink is poured in the event of a raid.

Mrs. Kate Mcyrick, owner of the 43 Club in Gerrard street, Soho, had only been released a few days after having served six months’ imprisonment. Within seven days of leaving prison she was re-arrested on a charge of having brided Goddard, and while on bail iu connection with this charge, she was again arrested for selling liquor after hours, though her club premises had been disqualified for live years. She is reputed to have made £20,000 in a single year, when the police were less concerned with eiasions of the liquor laws than they arc at tho moment. Her daughters are the Countess of Kinnoull and Lady do Clifford. When unsuspecting tourists or youths with more money than wits are introduced to a night club, the “dance partners” busy themselves. At first the nvan pays a small fee, say 2s. Od. for the privilege of dancing with a partner. Soon drinks are suggested, and tho “dance partner” is expert in gauging how much a man will pay. Customers of night clubs have paid JOs. or 40s. for a bottle of champagne which cost the proprietor 7s. 6d. If drink fails to attract, the man is probably persuaded to risk his money on roulette machines. The “dance partners” arc recruited from musical comedy chorus girls or mannequins. Almack’s, the card club in Hyde Park Place, has been compelled to close. The management was above suspicifln, but there lias been a declino of interest in card-playing, and considerable competition from poker clubs in the West End. Almack’s had the reputation of being one of the best furnished clubs in the West Eml, and it was uot possible to conduct it with a small membership. First the entrance fee of £8 Ss. was suspended, and, when this was- not attract enough members, the club was closed. _ Historically A 1 muck’s is connected with famous curd club which flourished in King street, St. James’s, in the time of George 111. There was also an Almaek?s in Pall Mall, where Pitt lost large sums of money, but the Aluiack’s in St. James’s was a card club for men and women, like that which closed recently. Aliutick’s enjoyed such a vogue in tho early part of tho nineteenth century that the committee denied admittance to the great Duke of Wellington one night, when he appeared iu a dress which did not conform to tho established rules.