RAID ON PEER’S HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16684, 16 March 1922, Page 6

RAID ON PEER’S HOUSE.

GAMING HOUSE INCIDENT.

An early morning raid on -suspected gamblers in Portland Place, W., whilst a dance was in progress was related in the Marlborough Police Court, London, in the middle of January. David Falcke (29), described as a commission agent, of 48, Portland Place, was charged with keeping and managing a common gaming house at that address. Mrs Brisley was summoned in respect of the same offence.

Frederick Barlow (61), butler, and William James (50), a valet, were charged with assisting in the management and James was further charged with obstructing Police-Superintendent Mack ay. All four pleaded not guilty.

“ This is a case,” said Mr Muskett, “ of what might be called gaming in high living.” The premises in question, as far as he could understand, were the town mansion of Viscount Galway, iand for some little time past—but previous to the present time—had been in the occupation of his son, the Hon Colonel George Vere Monckton-A rundell. The house was let through an agent to the woman before the Court, “who is, I believe, a physical wreck, for what reason we ore not here to inquire.”

They were let furnished to Mrs Marjory Beryl Brisley upon a six months’ agreement from September 29, 1921, to expire on March 30 next, at an inclusive rental of no less than £614 5s for tli© six months only, payable monthly in advance. This place wa>: taken, according to the contention for the prosecution, solely for the purpose of running unlawful gaming by Falcke, whom Mr Muskett described as “ one of the most inveterate gamesters anu gaming house keepers in London.” The warrant was executed at 1.20 on the morning of January 17. The superintendent went to the premises with his chief inspector and other subordinate officers, and the front door beil was rung. The door was opened by Barlow, the butler, in the employ of Falcke. In reply to the superintendent, the butler replied, “ I cannot let you in; I have not got the keys.” The officers made their way to the ground floor of the premises and found themselves in the outer hall. The> then went through a small open door into a second or inner hall, where there was r screen which masked the ap proach to another door. Looking from behind that screen they saw James, who appeared to be the valet in tho employ of Falcke.. That door which the screen covered, was found by the superintendent to be locked. On demanding of James that that door should be opened, the reply was much the same as Barlow had made a moment or two earlier. “ I cannot open it; I have not go^ The superintendent nnd his officers shouted to the people who were manifestly on the other side of the door, ns sounds of people moving about w’ere heard, but there was no reply. that door was forced with great difficulty bs the superintendent and his officers, the operation taking something like ten minutes. Having got through the door the police found themselves m a kind ot passage-way, and at its far cud they came to another double door which was likewise locked, and that had niso to be forced by the police, causing further delay. , , On passing through th© second dooiway th© officers found themselves in the ante-room, or the smoking-room, and eventually cam© to “ heavy curtains drawn across” before entering the dining-room, which the prosecution suggested was used by “ those individuals who came into their hands tor the purpose of unlawful gaming. Nothing of any importance was found in the dining-room, hub it was seen from an examination of the room that use had been made of a staircase leading from that room into the kitchen or basement. On descending the stairs the police heard a noise of persons moving, and they found, either in the basement or stairway, some ten men and three women, one of whom was Falcke. On the stairway the superintendent picked up some gaming coins, and it would be proved by one of the officers that Falcke placed a number of counters on some straw’ in the basement. Eventually the police •went to a small room above, where Superintendent Mackay read the warrant to Falcke. It was then noticed that on the further side of the dining-room there appeared to be a door leading into a kind of conservatory. Tho superintendent demanded the opening of the door. Falcke’s reply was somewhat amazing: “There are several rooms in this house which have been locked by Lord Galway, and I do not know what they contain.” Asked what that doorway was, Falcke replied: “That belongs to Lord Galway ; I don’t know' anything about it.” “ Yes, you do,” said the superintendent-. “If you don’t find the key I shall have to have that door forced as well as the others.” Falcke must have been a little beyond himself and became abusive, for which he afterwards apologised. It was possible apparently to obtain some view' of the structure by looking through the curtain. It was seen then that a number of gaming instruments w'ere in this unused conservatory.

The key was noth forthcoming, and Falcke appealed to the officers to allow him to have some refreshment-, saying, “I’ll be a sportsman; will you treat mo as a sportsman? I cannot give you the key, as I threw it out of the window when I got the tip.”

In tho disused conservatory was found all the paraphernalia of a most elaborate and modern gaming establishment-. It was manifest that the articles had been placed in the conserva-' tory after removal from the diningroom before the police were able to obtain access. There were found, either upon the defendants or upon the premises, all the bills for the various gaming tables and instruments on .the premises.

Falcke, said Mr Muskett, was running no fewer than six gaming houses. When the finding of the implements and coins on the premises was brought to the notice of Falcke, he replied, “ I will take the whole responsibility. Don’t touch these people. Let them go.” There was a dance taking place on one of the floors of the mansion when the police entered, one of the attractions by which people were induced to come to the house. That was, according to the prosecution, a blind. When the police entered there were found in different parts of the premises thirtyone persons, mostly young of either sex. Mrs Brisley, who was ill, was in bed-.