"TWO UP" RAID.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17694, 21 October 1919, Page 4

"TWO UP" RAID.

FIELD DAY-AT COURT.

VARIOUS FINES INFLICTED

POLICE COMPLIMENTED ON

CAPTURE

There was a record attendance at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning when there came a sequel to the recent Sunday raid on the "two up" school, at Castlecliff—the prosecution of the large number of players who attended it.

The charges were heard before Mr Wyvern Wilson,/S.M., and the prosecution was conducted by DetectiveSergeant Hollis.

The defendants who appeared were: D. Igo, J. Phillips, A. Lee, M. Da-kin, C. Tracy, J. E. Shore, M. Clark, C. J. Menzies, L. Rountree, J. Ever, J. E. Bekker, J. Cleary, and A. Howden. Thes.e ; "all answered their names and pleaded guilty.

The following did not appear:—B. Kartin, T. Wilson, P. F^gerald, T. W. Sherwood, R. Hayhow, E. Thompson, R. Maddoclc., J. Sharpe. J. Tairoa (for whom Mr Slipper appeared and lodged a plea p.r:guilty), A. Shelton, D. Graniham, W. Weller, J. l^ r 'iw?on. H. >»*id.er, W. Kobinson, L. Palmer, A. Vernon, S. Smith, R. Signal, R. Howden, A. Bates, A. Maddock, T. Wilson, J. Brodkes, J. Johnson, S. Holman, W. Anderson, H. Howeil. SUNDAY 1" ASSEMBLIES. Detective-Sergeant Hollis said the prosecutions were laid under a section of the Gaming Act. The "two up" school had been in progress for some time past at London Park, at Castlecliff. Play usually took place on Sundays when between 40 and 50 men assembled. Bad language was used and'^'t was possible that it could be heard by people passing the vicinity. Complaint was made to the police and, to headqxiarters in Wellington. Observations were made. The ''school" was held in a hollow and clay had been brought there for the ring., The police could not get near the school owing to scouts being on the hilltops around to give the alarm if necessary so the school could "not be rushed. On September 28th Constables Farnworth and McMullen were secreted in a dug-out which was made, 35 feet from the centre of the ring. In the gambling community "two up" was regarded as a fair game provided a "double header" was not used. ; A PERNICIOUS HABIT. His Worship remarked that it had the pernicious effect of giving a false idea of money because if a man could^niake £10 on the toss of a coin he would not work and it would prompt him to remain idle and gamble on Sundays. Proceeding, Detective Hollis said the game was played on the day between the races. On the first Sunday two constables were placed in the dug-out but the players got a scare. A scout came down, and they scattered to another place. On the Sunday the raid was carried out 40 men turned up, the first arriving at 1.45. The scouts were put out and play started. The raid was carried out at 3.30. The players scattered and ran into the arms of others of the police, and some kept on running when it was not necessary. His Worship: Some of them have not appeared to-day. Perhaps they are still running. (Laughter.) Detective Hollis: Some are afraid of losing their billets. His Worship: They are not losing a day's pay like these men who did come along. In conclusion Detective Hollis said the players admitted they were fairly and squarely caught and that the police were justified in what they did. :; COLLECTION TAKEN UP. Constable ,O. Farnworth said he saw women and children in the vicinity of where the game was played. A collection was taken up for the scouts. He identified a number of the players. Constable McMullan said the biggest bet was about £1. Money was thrown in the ring for the scouts ■ and collected by the ring-keeper. The latter used some frightful language. Detective Hollis said the ringkeepers were Bekker and Sherwood. In a previous case before the Court the existence of the school had been commented upon. One of the players—Robert Howden—had been fined before for "two up" at Auckland. The players did not have much to say when invited to speak. One man said he just arrived when the game finished and another denied that he used any bad language. On behalf of another player, a taxi driver, it was urged that he drove some people to Castlecliff, and while waiting there went to have a look at j the school. . j A CLEVER CAPTURE. j His Worship said the police were !to be congratulated on a clever and complete capture. It was always! difficult to detect "two up" players. He knew that from experience on the 1 coalfields, as the players had their i scouts out and it was difficult to get there. The' police in this case had caught the players by a clever device. The maximum' penalty was £50 or three months' imprisonment. It was a fa4xly heavy penalty, but it was not a case for the maximum i penalty. It might be thought harmless to toss a coin for money and some of them might think if they could bet on the "tote" they should not be stopped from having a game of "two up. I.1 '. The law was opposed to gambling except on the totalisator, which was run in connection with race meetings, and provided for a limited amount of gambling. It was a far finer sport than watching the spin of a coin. That had no sport about it and prompted gambling. It had a pernicious influence because if a man could make money by the spin of a coin he would not feel disposed to work. After the war it was essential men should work and assist production otherwise they would become parisites.

His Wofship then proceeded to allocate the fines. He said the ringkeepers (Bekker and Sherwood) were on a different footing. They were most interested in the "school" and encouraged the younger men to waste their Sundays and their money. Each would be fined £10.

Bates —one of the scouts, was fined £4—Detective Hollis stating that the scout paced up and down like a constable on his beat.

Howden, who had been previously proceeded against for "two up" was fined £5.

Those who were at the "sqhool" on the two Sundays it was under observation, were each, fined £3. The rest were each fined £2 and in the case of those who did not appear £2 10s, his Worship remarking they had not lost a day's pay. '

The charge against W. Waite was adjourned for two weeks.