“ROLL-DOWN.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3045, 8 June 1926, Page 2

“ROLL-DOWN.”

DECISION TO BE GIVEN THIS WEEK. The case against Harold Percival Bishop and Alfred Dawson, proprietors of a “roll down” parlour situated at. 51 Manners st., Wellington, charging them with using the premises as a common gaming house, and, alternatively, of playing a certain game of chance known as “roll down,” was continued on Saturday morning, when Mr. E. Page, S.M., visited the premises and witnessed the games being played between detectives and experts foi the purpose of deciding whether the game was skilful or otherwise. After some argument with the defendants as to whether the Press should be admitted, the Magistrate gave instructions that the Press could enter. The games then commenced behind closed doors, a large number of the public who thought t hey could gain admission having to stand outside. Playing with the wooden balls, which were used in the parlour previously, when the information was laid, two expert players tied once and won fifteen games out of twen-ty-four against Detectives V. Murray and F. Sinclair. The lattei, wlio were trying to prove it was a game of chance, played with then heads turned, while the experts rolled the halls in the usual way. The total points at the end of the matf lies showed the experts had scored 1023 ncninsl 890 made by the nonexperts. . Playing with billiard balls, winch air now used on the tables. Detectives Murray and Sinclair, together with a representative of the Dominion, played twenty-eigo • games against three experts in older that “roll down” might he eonsideied a game of chance. The mateh with ivory balls resulted in an easy win for the experts, who won 22 out of 28 games in the aggregate. On the individual scores the experts won 12 of the games. The total points scored were: Experts. 1878; non-experts, 1513. After the tests, which lasted i'or about an hour, were over, all those present took part in a game of “roll down,” Detective Murray scoring the possible with another player. -Throwing the balls again, Ihe detective won. Mr. Page stated after the games that he would deliver his judgment in the matter this week.