A GAMBLING RAID.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 29

A GAMBLING RAID.

For somo weeks past the attention of the police has been directed to a place in Upper Willis street which was suspected of being used as a gambling saloon, but although a careful watch was kept, no opening presented itself for making a raid. For three Saturday nights—or rather Sunday mornings—in succession ChiefDetective Campbell and other members of the detective and police force have been waiting ready to make an incursion should a fitting opportunity occur, and each time, after hours of weary waiting, they have had to go away without effecting their purpose. The difficulties in their way may be imagined from a description of the premises and tho system of watchful guardianship which, it is alleged, is pursued by those in charge. Tho building, which is described as a billiard saloon, fronts tho street, there being no passage-way at the side, nor, in fact, any other modo of ingress. The front door is fastened with a lock and chain, and inside is a small lobby, about two yards long, at the end of which is a glazed door, also fastened with a lock and key. This door opens into a large empty room, at the far left hand corner of which is a door leading into the billiard-saloon, where, it is alleged, gambling was carried on. In tho extreme right hand corner of the empty room is another door, which has been unused for some time, and which opens into a narrow passage - way running the length of the billiard - room. At the far end of the saloon is another door leading into the same passage-way. There is no exit into any street from the back of the saloon. There is a window high up in the room at the back, covered with a thick baize curtain.

It is not easy to gain admission into tho saloon. It is alleged that the custom was somewhat as follows : —On hearing a ring at the front door, the doorkeeper, locking each door after him, opened the front door, and if ail was right, after communicating with the keeper, admitted the new-comer. The only hope for the polico to gain admission was by watching in the passageway at tho side of the saloon, access to which can only be gained by a most circuitous route and by surmounting a number of gates and fences. That was where the police were at 12 o'clock on Saturday night, the party consisting; of ChiefDetective Campbell, Detective Herbert, Acting - Detective Oantley and Constable Hutton. And there they waited for over an hour, during which time they could plainly hear what seemed the rattle of dice in the padded dice-box, the calling of the. *'odds," and all the other sounds and remark's incidental to a game of " hazard." Ultimately the door at tho end of the saloon opened, and one of the occupants came into the passage-way, and, although it seemed as if he was only to be absent for a minute or two, so great was the precaution observed that the door was immediately locked behind him. This was deemed by Chief-Detective Campbell a fitting moment for making the long-waited-for raid, and he at once instructed his three coadjutors to burst in the door further up the passage. In the rash that ensued the man who had come

I out of the saloon was knocked down and i trampled on, but he gave forth no sound. I It may be ho was speechless from astonishment. He must have subsequently made good his escape, as ho was no more seen. i His hat and coat were in the saloon, but ho , did not wait to go back for them. I The raid was effected with all despatch, but at the first sound of an entrance being effected those within commenced to make their escapes, passing quickly through tho doors out into the front. While Detectivo Campbell burst in the lower door, which he did with ono or two vigorous kicks, Detectivo Herbert and his two assistants smashed in the other door, and as soon as he had got inside Detective Herbert locked the glass door and put tho key in his pocket. Thus the occupants of tho saloon were placed between two fires, and their escape Avas completely prevented. On entering it was found that a cloth placed over the billiard-table, apparently for hazard, had been thrown to tho ground, and on the floor were found two dice and a small sum of money. A padded dice box was found by Detectivo Herbert just outside tho door. Only fourteen men were left of those who had been in the saloon, but several others had made their escape. Those left wero in a state of great dismay, and some endeavoured to conceal themselves under the table, but a number of uniform men having been sent for, they were secured and taken to tho Central Police Station, Lanjbton quay, where they spent the remainder of tho night in the cells.

Their names and descriptions are as follow: —Joseph Burke, who is charged with being tho keeper of a common gaminghouse in Willis street on tho 10th June; John Lunberg, labourer; Thomas Smith, billiard-marker; Norman Guild, cab-driver; John Winters, labourer; Alfred George Manthell, clerk ; Charles Anderson, labourer; Edwin Thomas, labourer; James McKec, bootmaker; T. King, musician; Chas. Ambrose, labourer; Geo. Hyde, ironmonger, and Stephen Tilley, labourer —all of whom are charged with being found without lawful excuse in a common gaming house kept by one Joseph Burke, situated in Willis street, on 10th June.

On Sunday morning all tho abo7o were released on bail until Tuesday morning, Bnrke being bound over in one surety of c£so and his own bond of a similar amount, and the others in a personal bond of .£lO each and one surety each of a like sum. A large crowd of people assembled in the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning, attracted thither by tho prospect that the charges arising out of the raid on an alleged gambling saloon in Willis street would bo investigated. A centrdemps, however, occurred, which necessitated an adjournment of the proceedings. It appears that under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881, a Justice of the Peace may grant a search warrant authorising the constables to break into premises and to arrest and bring before any two Justices all persons found there, together with all tables, instruments of gaming, &c, found on the premises. The owner or keeper of tho gaming-house, or any person conducting tho house, is liable on conviction to be fined not more than illOO, or to bo sentenced to not more than six months' hard labour ; and every person found in the house without lawful excuse is liable to a penalty of not more than £o. Tho detectives who made tho raid went armed with such a warrant as is mentioned above, and took the persons found in tho house before two Justices of the Peace. Up to that moment no charge whatever had been made against them; they were not arrested on any charge, they wero merely arrested by virtue of tho search warrant. Tho Justices remanded them to appear before Mr Martin, S.M., yesterday, and admitted them to bail, alI though as a matter of fact there was no charge made against them on which they could have been remanded. Tho course which tho Justices should have pursued was to ask the constables what charge they intended to prefer against them,' and they should then have taken an information, charged the defendants on that information, taken their plea of guilty or not guilty, and either adjourned the cases or dealt with them then and there. The first case called on in the Court was that against Joseph Burke, who was charged with being the keeper of a common gaming-house, to which he pleaded not guilty. Mr Skerrett, who said he appeared for all the defendants, said this plea of not guilty

was to bo taken as a refusal to jSload, as he contended tho Court had no jurisdiction to ry tho case. Mr Martin, S.M., who, with Mr Pickering, J.P., occupied tho Bench, upheld that contentioM, and suggested that the police had better lay informations against all the individuals arrested and proceed against them by summons. At present there was really no matter before tho Court which they could go into. If Inspector Ponder had any reason for believing the men wero likely to decamp ho would issuo warrants. Inspector Pender said ho should require bail. Mr Skerrett objected, saying thoy were all respectable people, and if bail was required an information must be laid immediately. Eventually it was decided that bail would not bo asked for, and that informations should bo laid in all cases, the summonses to bo made returnable for Tuesday in next week.