THE AUCKLAND RAID.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 11 April 1912, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND RAID.

C \SES ADJOURNED TILL NEXT WEEK. (United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND. April 10. In connection with the raiding of the ill-eged seaming houses yesterday, it it stated that the police have been engaged for some wv-tks in seeking evidence with the object of proceeding against some bookmaker.- of the city, 'these wil be proceeded against by summons. 'There was a big muster at the Police Court to-dav of the persons arrested. The cases were not called till late in the afternoon. and were then adjourned till the 18th inst. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE RAID. AUCKLAND. April 10. A brief Press Association telegram in reference to tile raid appeared in last .light's issue. Further details are now available as follows : Sub-Inspector Hendry. assisttd bv Sergeant O'Orady. Detective Scott, and nine constables, headed a raid to-day on Ryan's billiard saloon. A large numoer of men were found on the premises, ind others came in later. In all about 25 persons were here placed under arrest besides th-e owner of the establishnent. After the doors were secured all :he men on the premises were searched, ,vith the object of obtaining documentary evidence of betting. Some took objection to being searched, whilst others began to make excuses for being oil the oremises ; but with the exercise of some tact the police convinced those present uf the necessity of a search being con ducted, and they then submitted with as good a grace as possible. While the police were in charge oi ilie premises several persons knocked at the door and demanded admittance. They were told by the plain-clothes constable at the door that they could not ;ome in. but they were persistent. ''What rot," some of them exclaimed *'we must-go in '; while made use of stronger expressions. Their desire tc s«in admission was gratified, but theii 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 Coombes Arcade. were visited bv Senior-Semeant M'Kinnon and three con stables. There were no incident of am note to record. The occupiers of the premises and six other persons were ar rested, and all the books on the premises were seized. ■ . Seageant Bird and two constables raid ed the premises of Daniel 1 wohill. ifi Coombes Arcade. The occupier and K others, including a woman, were placec tinder arrest, and the usual search was made. Sergeant Ferguson was in charge of the raid on Weston and Richards' premise? in tile British Buildings. The- two principals and 25 others were arrested. 'Ail amusing incident took place in the office of one of the places raided. A biirlv sergeant was sitting at the table when a, middle-aged woman entered with the utmost confidenc-. It is understood she walked up to the seargeant and put a- half-sovereign on the table. saying: ''Half a sovereign on Masterpiece, please." "Right. I'll take it." said the sergeant, and lie put the money in his pocket. The lady was much surprised when she was enlighten!d by the sergeant as to [lis identity. "Oh." she remarked, amidst her confusion, "I thought you were a partnei >f the firm." The sergeant concerned certainly lias i. sportsmanlike appearance, but whether i e felt complimented or otherwise by the •emark has not been stated. The victims of the vigilance of the aw were apparently quite happy. It ,vas not long bef<i"e the ait', of athleticsm proper to a good gymnasium (to vhich the prisoners, nearly 8o in number, lad been removed, the watch-house being nadequate to their accommodation) apjealed to them, and they forthwith picked sides, tailed on to a long rope and lad a tug-of-war. Nobody knows who von. Nobody knows whether the men vho were arrested for gambling made iide bets on the event. If the ruling pirit were strong enough to conquer the nfltience of legal authority its voice was ,-e.ry still and small, and no money changed hands. It was natural that some at least oi he captured ones shovild try to warn >there approaching, and in one case a nan. called out to a visitor to go away f v.o .-i-»-'

if he valued his liberty. Th§ newcomer at once used hi s best efforts to leave, but a constable waylaid him »while stil. on the premises and brought him 'back. Most- of the men took the affair very philosophically. and seemed rather to enjoy the discomfiture of those freshly added to their ranks. The women were the most distressed.