MIDNIGHT REVELS AT KITKAT CLUB BARED IN COURT

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18056, 17 January 1927, Page 13

MIDNIGHT REVELS AT KITKAT CLUB BARED IN COURT

LONDON’S ELITE APPEAR BEFORE MAGISTRATE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Association. LON DON, January 15. Limousine after limousine drove up to Marlborough Street Police Court, dropping altogether a hundred fashionable persons to answer summonses for breaking the licensing laws. This is the sequel to the raid on the famous Kitcat Club on December 12, in which Princes, Peers, Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentarians are numbered among the five thousand members. The court was crowded with fashionable persons in expensive dresses and furs, young men-about-town and elderly men of military bearing, constituting a most remarkable collection of defendants. Twelve pleaded guilty and were fined £lO each. The remaining cases w*ere adjourned, including one against the management to show catise why the club should not be struck off the list. The prosecution’s revelations of night life unfolded a sorry picture. Since the opening in March last year the liquor sales totalled £47,467, of which £25.000 represented profit. There was no suggestion of disorder or drunkenness, but it is remarkable that such a lavish establishment could be conducted on grossly irregular lines. Five constables were admitted without question at midnight and served with a bottle of champagne at a cost of 30s. With it were five sandwiches which had not been ordered, but for which £1 was charged. Two further champagnes were served in a glass jug, the bill totalling £5 15s. Everybody was drinking, having ordered liquor before midnight and putting the bottles under the table. An analysis of the nomination forms revealed that, 2000 had no proposer or seconder and 1500 no seconder.