FORTY ARRESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 10

FORTY ARRESTS

RAID BY POLICE PREMISES IN THE CITY MAN HIDES IN LIFT SHAFT DETECTIVES' SMAKT WORK Detectives carried out a lightning raid on the top floor of premises in Fuller's Buildings, 312 Queen Street, at 8.45 o'clock last night, burst in upon a party of about 40 men who were alleged to be playing "two-up" round a billiard table, and arrested them all, in spite of the determined attempts of two to make their escape down the lift shaft. One of them stepped on what proved to be nothing more substantial than a wall-board ceiling, and to his astonishment he fell through on to the floor below, almost into the arms of a detective who had just entered.

The raiding party was divided into three. Detective-Sergeant F. Aplin, with Detectives R. Jones and A. Harris, climbed on to the front verandah, which abuts that of St. James' Theatre in Queen Street, mounted the fire escape looking out toward the Civic Theatre, and forced their way through a window on the top floor. Another Entrance Forced Meanwhile the second police unitDetectives R. Waterson, C. Lane and R. Hamilton —had mounted a ladder from the Lorne Street side to the verandah at the back of the building, climbed the fire escape, and reached the top floor, where they found their progress barred by a wire-netting shield and a bolted window. They had to work quickly. The wire-netting was wrenched off, the lower pane of the window smashed, and Detective Waterson scrambled through the opening in time to see two men disappear up a steel ladder close to the lift shaft. The third section' of the raiding party comprised Detectives F. Brady, R. Stevenson, D. Whillams and H. Wilson, who mounted the stairs and forced their way in through the door which barred their progress at the top of the second flight. In the meantime Detective F. Quinn stood guard at the front lower entrance. Little Chance o! Escape

The raid was perfectly timed, and before the men round the table had much chance 'of escape they found themselves surrounded with police officers. The detectives seized a number of dice and other gambling paraphernalia, and made an exhaustive search of'the premises. One of the two men who made a bid for liberty was found at the crown of the lift shaft, his intention apparently being to lie hidden on the top of the cage until the raid was over, but the light from a police torch disclosed his whereabouts, and he clambered down to where the others waited to be taken to the central police station. The police van made five trips, much to the interest of a crowd of bystanders, who stood outside for nearly an hour as batch after batch of men was brought out.

A SPECIAL COURT EARLY MORNING SITTING MEN REMANDED ON BAIL THREE ALLEGED PRINCIPALS A special Court sitting was held at the Central Polic# Station at an early hour this morning, when the 41 men arrested in the raid appeared before Mr. J. Donald, J.P. Three men were charged with assisting in the conduct of a common gaming house. They were: —Darid Henry Simon, George Charles Adams and James Joyce. They were remanded to appear in the Police Court this morning. Each was released on bail of £IOO. The following 38 men were charged with being found on the premises without lawful excuse: —William Daubney, Frederick Burn, Victor Lionel Norris, John Stannard Goodall, Henry Simons, Charles Eleazard, Francis Leslie Kneebone, Ulric Ralph Carter, Ronald Cameron, Henry William Thomas, Walter Buchanan, Charles Dickinson, Anthony Nini, Andrew Robert Pay ton, James Victor Silra, James Rangi, Hilary Ferris Browne, Martin Nichols, George Bernard Murphy, Robert McDonald.

Charles Henry Tileman, Stewart Lowrie, Frank James Wilson, Jack Rainsford, Rangi Noble, Charles Lowen, Nicholas Browne, George Mac Donald, Archibald McPherson, John Phillips, Maurice Hooper, Frederick George Lavery, Samuel Shepherd, Alexander Mcßae, John Henry Shadbolt, John Thomas Browne, Samuel Henderson, Harbert Facoory.

The 38 men, wlio were all released on bail ranging between £4 and £5, were also remanded until this morning.