GAMBLING ALLEGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18974, 26 March 1936, Page 11

GAMBLING ALLEGED

WATERFRONT RAID 'ARRESTS IN AUCKLAND (Per L'ress Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. | A sensation was caused on the waterfront this morning when a party of detectives suddenly appeared in two motor cars, which drew up near the entrance to Queen's wharf. The party moved' swiftly on to the section of the wharf connecting Queen's wharf with the Central wharf and surrounded a crowd of 44 men, who later were taken to the wharf police station. It, is alleged that. four gambling "schools" were in progress when the detectives arrived, one playing "twoU p" and the others ••crown and anchor." A number of dice were seized, as well as "crown and anchor" hoards. The roup was made so suddenly that none of the men involved was aware, that anything was amiss until the eight detectives were upon them. They submitted to questioning in good humour, and exchanged badinage with the detectives and also a police sergeant and two constables who had armed on the scene. It is alleged that one of the men acted as "scout" for the others, his point of vantage being the lop of a boiler. The men will later appear in the. Police Court on summons. The raid was the biggest ever connected with alleged gambling on the waterfront, and was carried out lollow--ing numerous complaints. The proceedings quickly attracted a large number of bystanders, who were interested spectators of the whole episode.