ECHO OF RAID AT AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 9 March 1946, Page 5

ECHO OF RAID AT AUCKLAND

TROTTING DRIVER IN COURT CHARGE OF BEING IN GAMING HOUSE Auckland, March 8. Unusual interest was shown by the public, which filled the Courtroom, when Albert William Broughton, trotting driver, of Titirangi, appeared on a summons before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., charged with being found without lawful excuse in a common gaming house at 8 Parting.on Lane, on February 15. Defendant was represented by Mr. I. J. Goldstine. Senior-Detective Aplin said the prosecution had arisen Xfom a raid on the premises on February 15. When appearing in Court the following day two persons had sworn that defendant had been present but he had not appeared in Court. Further investigations had been made and a summons issued.

Detective Fraser said he was one of the raiding party. When the house was entered it was found that “twoup” was being played. In answer to Mr. Goldstine as to whether a warrant had been issued to Detective Cromwell, witness said that it had. Detective Cromwell had been in charge and the other members of the party were himself and Constables Pentecost, Fletcher, Brazendale, Hughes and Fleming. Cross-examined by Mr. Goldstine, witness said all exits from the premises had been covered and anyone leaving would have had to pass one of the officers. He did not know defendant but after seeing him in Court could say he was not present at the raid. He could not have escaped after the police arrived. Constable Brazendale said he had driven the police van from the city police station to lhe premises. He narked it about eight yards from the back door. Windows and the back door were the onlv exits and no one had left while he was there.

Evidence was given bv Cecil Henry Shadbolt thaf he had gone to the premises in Partington Lane in order to have a rest. When he arrived people were playing two-up. He went to a bedroom to lie down and he could hear the game in progress in the next room. He heard someone say:— “Broughton is laying heads.” He did not know Broughton personally but could identtify him. Witness said during the raid he was taken from the bedroom to the main room and saw Broughton standing bv a table. Detective Cromwell was talking to him. The detective said: “What a b— fool you are to come to a place like this,” or words to that effect. Witness remained in the room for another eight or ten minutes before being taken to the police van, and when he left hp thought Broughton was In a small norch near the back of the house and Detective Cromwell was talking to him. On the wav to Ihe police station, witness said: “Where’s Broughton?” and he was told to “Hush.” On repeating the ouestion at the police station they said: “Do not sav anvabout Broughton or he will lose his licence.”

A married woman. Ruth Paling, said she had been on the premises about 15 minutes before the raid. She said defendant arrived at the house some time after her. He stood at the end of the table, but she could no say where he was at the time of the raid as there was so much confusion.

A Maori, Thomas Kirkwood, said that when he arrived at the premises on the day of the raid there were quite a number of people there he knew by sight. He was joined after his arrival by his wife, whom he introduced to Broughton. He had known him over a period of 20 years.

Mrs. Terongo Kirkwood, wife of the previous witness, said she had gone to the house in Partington Lane to see Mrs. White about a frock. Sh? was introduced to Broughton, who came in after her arrival. Witness said that after thp police arrived she heard Detective Cromwell say to Broughton: ‘“You should know better than this.” Later she saw Broughton talking to Detective Cromwell and something passed between them.

Witness said she could not swear what it was but she heard Cromwell tell Broughton to “Stand by ’ a little after the incident.

Questioned as to what she saw pass between Broughton and Detective Cromwell, witness said they had been standing very close together. She could not say what it was that had been passed. It certainly was paper. When she appeared in Court the following day she had not said anything to the magistrate about the money as her solicitor had advised her to say nothiig about it. “DARKIE BROLGHTON” Roy Rang! Riwa said in evidence that he hau met a man at the gate of lhe premises whom he knew as “Darkie.” He had met him two days previously. When asked to identi.y him in court, witness .pointed to a man standing in the middle of the courtroom. Mr. Goldstine said that arising out of lhe evidence of the last witness, confirmation had been given ol something to which he had referred earlier. Witness had identified the wrong person as “Darkie Broughton,” and counsel said there was a man present in the court who was knJFwn as “Darkie Broughton.” This man had been interviewed by the police, when he had revealed that he was 'known as “Darkie Broughton,” and a statement which he had made was in existence. Senior-Detective Aplin said there was such a statement, and the man was not going to be called, but he was prepared to divulge his name. The truthfulness of the man was open to question. Mr. Goldstine traced the movements of defendant on the day of the raid. Detective W. H. Cromwell described the method by which the raid had been carried out and the positions his men had taken up.

Questioned by Senior-Detective Aplin, witness said he knew Broughton by sight but he had never spoken to him. Statements that he had been in the raid were untrue, as were statements by previous witnesses Hint he had spoken to Broughton. The onlv men he had spoken to were Winiata and White. Witness denied statements that he had stood at the door with Brough’on and that something had passed between them. . He had been outside most, of the time. Witness said that he had seen Shadbolt there but his statement that he had seen witness talking lo Broughton was definitely untrue. Witness could give no explanation for Shadbolt saying that. He could not give anv explanation for the evidence given by Mrs. Paling or Kirkwood. Witness had seen Mrs. Kirkwood, and the remark “You should have known better than this,” which she said witness had said to Broughton had been said to a man called O’Sullivan. Witness denied speaking to anyone on the norch. Tf Broughton had been there he would have been rounded up with the others, and if anyone had got away, witness said, his men had not told him. After Constables Pentecost and Fletcher had given evidence that they did not see Broughton in the raid, the case was adjourned until Monday.