"TWO-UP" SCHOOL RAIDED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 16, 14 October 1919, Page 6

"TWO-UP" SCHOOL RAIDED

CLEVER COUP BY POLICE AT CASTLECLIFF A STARTLED GATHERING •Br Talcgrapli—Special Wanganui, October 13. Wanganui hns been thrown into a state of great excitement over, the successful finiling by the police of ft "two-up" school at Castleclift'. It has been an open secret that the "school" has been in existence at Castleclift for two years or so, and big stakes are said to have been lost and won at various times. It is reported that as much us <£100 has been won by a single gambler in a few hours, 'the frequenters of the lmunt including well-known bookmakers and town residents. The police have had the locality under observance for some time past, and plans for a coup were carefully laid, .the result proving that the lessons of the war have not been lost. . This fact will be appreciated when it is Hinted that careful reconnaissances havo been niado by the police for several months past, the operations including the planning and construction of several dug-outs, the latter playing a most important part in tho sequel. The site of tho "school" was in a depression near the public school, a sccluded spot hidden by the hills and brushwood. while tho precautions usually taken by devotees of the pastime—the posting of sentries 011 tho outskirts for tho purpose of giving a friendly warning of the approach of danger-were duly adopted. 111 the circumstances, therefore. having located the site of the "school." tho police had to construct the dug-outs at eventide, for the slightest suspicion that the law • was moving (vould have completely upset tho plans. One of the dug-outs was built close to tho playing Ting, skilfully protected by flowering broom, and the other a short distance away, and these have'been occupied for several Sundays by the police, who have bfeen studying another pastime —photography. Somo really excellent snaps of groups and individuals liave been secured', and these. will constitute a not insignificant section of the evidence to bo tendered -when the cases come beforo the Court in due time. It was decided yesterday by the police to make the offensive which had been so carefully planned, and at an early hour, Constables Farnworth and Wamhouso secreted themselves in the centre dug-out, the flowering broom being so arranged by Detective-Sergea.ut Hollis as to avoid aiiy suspicion of what was in store, wliilo tho defective and Constable M'Mullan posted themselves some distance away. At ?, p.m. the "school" began to assemble, and soon operations were in full swing, as were also the cameras, twenty-seven players taking part in the game 'of "heading 'em." Some interesting notes on the game were also secured by. tho occupants of tho dugout. who duly committed to paper the various (observations overheard during the progress of the About 4 o'clock the "school" was suddenly thrown into the wildest confusion by Constable Wainliouss suddenly appearing like a "bolt, from the blue," followed by Constable Farnworth, who took ft final 6nap ■with the' camera. Many of the players in their startled headlong flight ran into the arins of the members of the foroe posted outside, and accepted the inevitable philosophically. Further information concerning the clever coup of the police will be forthcoming after the summonses have been served and the photographs duly developed.