SPORTS CLUB RAIDED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11580, 2 July 1918, Page 5

SPORTS CLUB RAIDED.

NUMEROUS ARRESTS. Brisbane. June 15, A smarlly c: rried out organised raid was unde by the ' police on Tnursclay night on premises at the corner of Albert and Elizabeth Street, adjacent to end leading from what is known as the Brisbane Sporting uluh. Fifteen plainclothes' police entered the front door of the Brisbane Sporting Olub, and in a twinkling overpowered the keeper of-the noor. The staivt ase was rushed by the police, who, armed with si due-hammers, battered in ‘ a wooden v, alia!; the top of the stabs, :!,us gaining access to the upper room About 23 men were imun-diately cap: or. ,', and hurrhd away in cabs. T. police foliow *d ' tracks through another room, and along a short passage,.'at tire end of which there was a secret ladder-way into !le roof It was here, ■among the rafters, that another 15 were secured. It is believed that only >ne escaped, and lie falling Through the ceiling of an adjacent shopi into a, bedroom occupied oy a woman aud hrr daughter, managed to elude the piolice. The betting rooms wore remarkably well strengthened and equipped. The doors .were lined with steel a quarter of an inch thick and doubly-bolted: the windows w.ro covered with green baize, and die balconies protected by barbed w:re entanglements. In one room thoro was a “two-up’* ring, and in another hazard and card tables At the watchbouse Thomas Keating was charged with being the keeper of a common gaming liou.se, and Frank Sturgess with assisting in the conduct of the business. The other 41 men were charged with helyg feund in a’ common betting house.