SOCIETY GAMBLERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8342, 31 January 1913, Page 2

SOCIETY GAMBLERS

POLICE PAID OX A HOUSE IX BELGRAVIA. ,£IO,OOO IX COUNTERS. DEFENDANTS COME TO COURT ll* SMART MOTOR-CARS. LONDON. December 22. Landauletles and smart motor-ear* drawn up outside flip Westminster Police Court on Tuesday suggested th* idea lb at some finart social function was taking place then*. They belonged, to a number oi i»crsouy charged in connection with a police raid on a house in. Wilton crescent, Bclgrave square, \V., described in court as "one of the largest gaming establishments irr the Metropolitan police district," which was fol!owed by proceedings before the Westminster "Magistrate (Mr Francis). As an. instance of the extent of the gambling, ("chemin do for") alleged, to have been in progress, it: wag elated that the croupier had in ’ll is vicinity counters repre~ seating nearly .1-10,000. Fifteen men ana throe women, nil giving West-end addresses, appeared to answer charges under the Gaming Act. Hov McKay, 24. and William Grease, 32, were accused of being the principal* and with keeping 41, Wilton crescent us. a gaming house. McKay described himself as an engineer, while Grosso- said b« had no trade or profession. George Trait. George Martin, and Henry .John, son, servants, wei-S charged with assisting in conducting tiro house. The following were charged with fro quenting the house for the purpose oi gaming:—

George Rock, 37, pf Draycott plncc, Chelsea, no occupation. Leo Ralli, 18, of Park street. Park lane, gentleman. Melville Ward, 22, of Cleveland ro», St. James’s, no occupation. George P. Sykes, Piccadilly, no oo cupation. Robert Borthwick, 41, Carlton House. Regent street, engineer. Mabel Powell, 32, of Queen square. Mayfair, married. Emma Hill, It), of Groevc-nor mansions. Oxford street, married. Emma Field, 40, et Grosvenor mansions, Oxford street, married. Marjorie French, 2S, of 14, Queen square, Mayfair, married. Thomas W. Powell, 36, of Paternoster House, Paternoster row, estate agent. Morris H. Knight, 20, of Marlow. Bucks, no occupation. Henry Stanton, 34, of Piccadilly, ns occupation. Rene Kann, 52, of Lancaster gate, no occupation (French subject). George Leonard Davies, 59, of Tis-

bury road, Hove, no occupation

McKay appeared in court in a grey lounge suit. With soft collar, and wore spats. Most of the other men had overcoats of fashionable cut, and One or two displayed diamond soarf pins and rings. Of the women Mrs French, who appeal'd to be only just over twenty, and the youngest memlber of the party, wore it, dark blue costume with a hobble skirt.

Mr Muskett prosecuted on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, and Mr Arthur Newton appeared for the defence. “You have hero to deal with a typical gaming house," said Mr Muskett. “Thera can be no doubt the house, which wpa taken furnished for three months, wan taken by the defendants McKay and Grosse to bo used as a gaming house,. To give you an idea of the magnitude, ofi gaming carried on," added Mr Muskett, “it is necessary to tell you that the various persons gathered, round «. table on the first floor on the premises when the police entered had before them counters for chemm do fer representing .£Bl3 in. money. “Grosse, who was acting as croupier, had in his immediate vicinity counters representing .£9BBO. With such provision as that for unlawful gambling it is no exaggeration to say you have before you persons responsible for one of the largest gaming establishments in the Metropolitan Police District." Superintendent Kilch said he went with other officers to 41, Wilton crescent, at 6.50 on Monday night. _ The door was opened by Pratt, who was detained whilo he (the superintendent) went upstairs. In the drawing-room Powell was sitting behind, blit not playing. The game of chemiu de fer was being played, and Grosso was acting as croupier. Tho banker had a shoe iu iront of him, from which cards were drawn for the purposes of the deal. McKay was brought into the room from another part of the premises. He said, “1 am tho principal, and will take the responsibility." Mr Muskett: Was McKay searched? Ho was.—Did you hud cheques for a very large sum upon him? Yes. — And also cheques for considerable sums on other persons? Yes.

There were counters on the table representing sums of £IOO, .£SO, ,£25, .£1(1, £5, ill. and 10s.—I suppose the counters were sold as required? It take it so.— The back of the drawing-room, the witness added, was fitted up as a buffet, where wines and spirits were provided and two waiters were engaged—Martin, and Johnson.

Mr Newton: Did you ascertain that both McKay and Grosse livo on the premises? Yes.—And had thev a staff of male and female servants? Yes.—Witt, the exception of a card table, is everything else in tho house like an ordinary gentleman’s house? Except that there is a telephone near the bed. — “That is not Very unusual is it?’’ commented Mr Newton. "But it appears suspicious, I suppose, to the official mind-’’

The shutters, the superintendent agreed, were ordinary ones, and from first to last the .police were given every facility for doing their duty.—You got iti by knocking. Was someone sent in first? A police officer.—Did he have a card printed with the name. “Charier Harris, the Bachelors' Club”? I don't know.—Was the officer P.C. McCovey? Yes.—Did you know that when he twco to get in at first he was refuse!? 1 be. lieve so.—Did net tho box of counter! arrive just before the raid? I don't -■HI the people found Uiire were obviously people well-to-do, in a good position in life? Yes.

The hearing of the charge against McKay, Grosse, Pratt, the hall porter, and, the waiters, Martin and Johnson, wan then adjourned till Monday, bail being allowed in sureties amounting to .£1509 for the first two and in £4O each m regard to the others. The other defendants were bound over in £SO each not to frequent a gaming house.