“TWO-UP.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 70, 6 November 1911, Page 8

“TWO-UP.”

SCHOOL AT SOCKHC.RX 11A1DKJ). "When a reporter <■:«II '1 at tlip Dp- 1 iectivo Office at about 2 o’clock yesLonlay al’tenioon lie hud to recognise that some unusual happening was about to take place, says the Christchurch “.News” of Ilenday last, biiial--I v, because of bis importunities, be was admitted into the secret; and eventually bo was able to persuade the Chief Detective to allow him to take a humble place in the adventur-

ing party. Dor months past it bad been known to the authorities that there was a large “two-up” school meeting sometimes in a plantation, and sometimes in a disused slaughterhouse, near the Plumpton Racecourse. The name oi the alleged gambling master, and the quality of the other habitues were well known, but owing to the apparent impossibility ol obtaining evidence which would lead to a conviction little beyond the making of careful enquiry had been done in the matter. Many plans had been suggested. but the only one that seemed feasible wa? that followed by Chief Detective Bishop. The roads leading directly to the place could not be used, as the more wealthy persons who travelled to the place of their amusement in motor cars might pass the police party and give the alarm. So the five detectives and the reporter made a wide detour through Spreydon, finally piling their cycles in a paddock nearly hali-a-milo from toe actual scene of operations. Once in the long plantation progress had to be slow and careful—a wellworn track showed how popular the pastime was. It was known that there were “scouts” out, but they were buvv yesterday, and the party reached the open-air ring, about twelve feet in diameter and trodden smooth and hard as an asphalt pavement, without being observed. Their troubles were only beginning, however, for a party of' half-a-dozen cane through' the plantation, apparently making straight for the ambush. All hands crept into the shelter of a peculiarly comfortless gorso hedge and lay 1 uddon. That party passed slowly, and one of the detectives left tiie more certain shelter of the hedge, to lie at full length in the bottom of Iho ditch. He was able to see the members of the next little group which passed, and from his whispered descriptions—complete to tT.o smallest details—each member of it was identified. Then the “scouts” propei, both well hut unfavourably known to the police, took up stations scarcely thirty yards away. It was nearly half-an-hour before they left theip station. The coast being comparatively clear, the little party crept to the place where they had been standing. A detective and' the reporter strolled calmly into the open, followed at twenty yards distance by the others. When the leaders were within thirty yards of the shed, the alarm was given. A tall bookmaker led the field by a dear ten yards. He travelled quickly ■ but took a four-foot fence with a poor take-off in bis stride. The. detectives made excellent time, an though they were well behind in the beginning were able to catch six or seven of the

alleged gamblers. A close inspection of the premises left no doubt that they had housed many people on many occasions. The floor was thickly strewn with cigarette packets, and the earth all about trodden hard. It is known definitely that an occasion sixty persons attended, (hough at the time of the raid there were only about forty present. Those captured wore released after they bad aiven their names and addresses, the police being satisfied that they eculd bo found when wanted. The names of iho majority of the others are also known to the police, having been supplied by police representatives who were present at the actual operations. The only spoil gathered was a cycle which a" man abandoned in favour of a cross-country, course, and the only casualties were a scratched face sustained by one of the players, and a cut lip and pair of torn trousers by a detective.