CHIEF COMMISSIONER'S STATEMENT.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 427, 15 July 1913, Page 2

CHIEF COMMISSIONER'S STATEMENT.

SYSTEM OF AMERICAN GRAFT

In an extended reference to the raids the Chief .Commissioner of Police said : —

" It has been within my knowledge for some time, and within the knowledge of the Chief Secretary, that m some of the unlicensed cafes m the city considerable quantities of wines and spirits were being consumed, mostly after the closing of licensed houses, and continuing up to the small hours of the morning. The attention of the late Chief Commissioner was brought to the matter, but any efforts made to prevent a continuance were unsatisfactory. Within the last couple of months L have received the following letters: — \

"'I send you this information m the hope that you have not yet been bribed. If you act ' upon it you can suppress a great scandal and secure for yourself an honest name. Cafe. — First Scene : Any Saturday night, supper starting at 11.30 p.m. ; songs, masked dancers, women smoking m the big room opening off the street; actresses tossing for sovereigns at the tables near the door. Moet, year 1904, on every table, price charged being from 15s to 25s per bottle. The cafe holds a' large stock of this wine. Outside the door policeman m uniform standing near door listening to the bandj free drinks left inside on the _counter ("these facts .are known to me," continued Mr Sainsbury, " and it seem§ to me that there are going to be some vacancies m the force very shortly") — a dozen or more taxis waiting outside — (we have counted 23) — until 2 a.m. and later on Sunday morning. Up r stairs are large rooms. They have two bolts on the. inside of every door. Why ? ('"A Hater of Cant ' m a letter to the 'Age' the other day," said the Chief Commissioner, "mentions this point.") This place is a notorious den. Dancing, immorality, drinking/ and no license— 7o odd people were m the big room at 1 o'clock last Sunday morning. Why ? Gold tells.' ' " This seems to be a hint that somebody is bribed," went on Mr Sainsbury. "The other letter, which I have .received more recently still, states : — Cafe. — Open on Saturday, or rather Sunday, until after 3 o'clock, police getting supper there every Saturday night lately. Some of your men have sent warnings, and some of the trusted customers are asked to sign orders for liquor. A drunken aide-de-camp was dancing m the big room at 2.30 a.m. on Sunday. You raid the poor and small sly grog-sellers, and leave these dens of iniquity alone. You are ! not a shirker, or you belie your reputation, and if you cannot do anything I will try others. "I was impressed," remarked the Chief Commissioner, " with the apparent truth .of the information contained m these letters, and I saw Mr Murray, the Chief Secretary, and told him that it would cost a considerable amount of money to deal with places of this nature (especially with champagne at 25s per bottle). Mr Murray said I was to go on Avith the matter, and left it entirely with me. He said I could expend as much money as I liked m securing the information necessary for the prosecutions. Being thus armed, I at once cast round for suitable agents, both male and female. These agents have been since engaged from time

to time m visiting and supping at the places which we raided last night.. Naturally enough, the greatest secrecy has been observed. On Saturday morning, by appointment, I met Sir Edward Carlile, who attended at my office, and on the sworn information laid by Licensing Inspector Canty he issued warrants to search the premises of the Savoy, Francatelli, and Schwetasch Cafes, as well as warrants for the apprehension of 9 or 10 waiters who had served to police agents champagne and other liquors, and taken payment for same. The warrants were executed between 12.45 and 3.30 a.m. on Sunday."

"There is one aspe.ct of the business," continued the Chief Commissioner, " that looks ugly, and savors of the introduction of the American _ ' graft ' system. The police who are doing duty m the vicinity have been specially watched by the secret agents of the Commissioner, and the official numbers of those seen m the cafes m the eariy hours of the morning have been taken. On one occasion, at least, it is known that some of these men went into the supper room, and that 'some of the 'young bloods' came out wearing their helmets and carrying their batons. Men of this class won't euit me, and m all probability therg will be sundry vacancies m the police force within the next few days.

" As secrecy may be regarded as the first element of success m these matters," the Commissioner continued, " it was necessary that the full information to. the raiding parties should be kept quiet.. They were entirely m the dark as to where they were destined to be sent. The detectives were detained m one portion of the barracks as they came m at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening, and the members of the uniform police were m another part of the building. The rumor had been circulated that a raid was being planned — a. rumor which was said to emanate from the 'Bosses' — on a coining place hi one of the suburbs. In this way it was not possible that there would be a 'leak.' At, an appointed time on Sunday morning the raiders were divided into three parties, each having had their orders under a sealed envelope, which they were to open at a stated time. The three raids were made simultaneously. Ido not think that to give the names of the people present, which were taken by the police, would be kind, nor is it at tne present time necessary. If it happens later on, howevei*, ! that some prosecutions have to be fought subpoenas will be issued for various persons who have been seen at the cafesfrom time to time to attend, and they will be compelled to 1 give evidence as to what they have seen take place, and what they have themselves done. Amongst the people present have been noted a number of the demimonde, and these persons have been recognised by the police and their agents from time to time."