A POLICE RAID.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1360, 22 June 1918, Page 11

A POLICE RAID.

SM ST. DAVID STREET. " CELEBRATION " DISTURBED. SERIOUS CHARGES TO BE LAID. As a result of a police raid made at midnight recently on . premises in St. David Streen, seven, men will shortly appear before the Magistrate's Court. In addition to charges connected with allegations of "sly-grogging," it is understood that there will be a prosecution, under the War Regulations Act, for keeping a house of ill-fame. 35 St. avid Street, standing a few doors off Montreal Street, is an old wooden "shanty," with two rooms in front, and the usual lean-to at the back. It is most presentable as it faces the street, for the rear portion of the yard behind it is in a sorry state. The interior is said to have been found in a worse condition still.

The place has been the headquarters of a man named Percy Pascoe, and has been known to the police for some time as the resort of undesirable characters of .both sexes. Neighbours, too, have complained of the "carryings-on." When Police-Sergeant O'Grady and Constable McKay made an entry the other night, a "celebration" was in full swing, the principal having six male guests. The names of these were secured, and the otiicers instituted a search for booty. Besides other liquor, they took. away six dozen bottles of beer. The method of "stocking up" the concern appears to have been by lorry. Well-filled sacks, seeming to be packed with straw, have been carted up and taken inside. Later, the horse, which is yarded behind the place, where it "nuzzles" affectionately against the back door, has been noticed fasting on straw. It is presumed that the more expensive contents of the sacks have remained within the house. Pascoe. the principal, is known to some as "the masked man," in consequence of the bandages which he wears over some facial disfiguration, ft is as yet not known when he and his fellows will be charged.