FORTIFIED GAMBLING DENS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6

FORTIFIED GAMBLING DENS

WITH - BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS. A sensational raid 011 a gambling den led to Ihe appearanc of forty-three men at the Central Police Court at Brisbane. Thomas Keating was charged with keeping, and Frank Sturgeon and Har:y Brown with assisting to keep, a gaming house. Tho others were charged with frequenting. Keating was lined =2100 or six months, Sturgeon and Brown .£SO each, or three months, and the others from .£9 or a month to £2 or fourteen days' imprisonment.

Sub-Inspector Brosnan, in describing the gaining house, said that immediately oil entering, facing the door ivas a rostrum, which reminded one of a pulpit, and also two blackboards, which would, perhaps, suggest that a clergyman was instructing his 'pupils in the evils of gambling. In a strongly fortified door was a spyhole. lirown acted bore, and from tlils vantage .position inspected any one who desired admission. The bolts on the door were stronger even than those used on Hie doors of the cells. Inside again, was u shutter worked by pressing a button. This shutter had to bo slid back before anyone could gain admission. In tin- room in which twotip was played was a large round hole in the ceiling which allowed the tossing of the coins, another door was double bolted at top and bottom. liulieroid was iisul freely so thai 110 light could be seen from outside, lie counted iortyrighl • ir.plv beer hollies in one room. The balcony in the j.ivr.-.isj-s was, to (he ordinary observer. ■ simply made private by the use of old bamboo blinds and some hessir.n. On close examination, however, it was seen that behind these blinds the balcony was enclosed with ordinary wire, and behind this again was a network of barb wire which would do credit to the generals oil v the Western front.