MARIAN'S DEN

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 6

MARIAN'S DEN

♦ Detectives Look In On Glavas (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Rep.) "Crime on the wane m Auckland." We hear it from all sides and straightway begin to think that the Auckland detective staff will be going to seed. BUT no. There are plenty of pseudosensational "stunts" kept m reserve by these minions of the State. For instance, a little raid upon a gambling den isn't out of the way m providing a bit of excitement for the force, while at the same time the State coffers, ever gaping and wid,emouthed, may receive a substantial meal. So away to war went the little raiding party the other Saturday night. Their goal was a shop-dwelling In Victoria Street, occupied by a Dalmatian named Marian Glavas (36). The raid was a great success from the point of view of everyone except the occupier and the large number of his fellow countrymen who were found on the premises. What the film camera-men missed was told by Detective Hammond at the Auckland Police Court when a group of thirty-two, mostly Dalmatians, lined up before Magistrate Hunt. On the tick of the "zero" signal, the little band of police officers made their entry from the back of the premises., The sudden presence of such uninvited visitors as detectives caused a stir among the gathering. The light was switched out and darkness covered the exit and escape of the gamblers, some of whom clambered to the roof. Lawyer Sullivan appeared for Glavas, who was charged with keeping a common gaming-house, and twenty or more of the other offenders, who were charged with being found on the premises. Lawyers Dickson and Webb each claimed a client. Three of the accused failed to appear and were convicted and fined £2 each, the remainder being remanded, on Lawyer Sullivan's request, until a week later, when all but five of them appeared to put m a plea of guilty. Little quarter was given by Magistrate Hunt to those who ventured to give an excuse, only one of the five being able to con- j vince the bench that he was not there to gamble. j Glavas was convicted and fined £25, the other sixteen being also convicted and fined £2. Lawyer Dickson's client was greatly perturbed over the fact that if he were convicted, a racehorse which he owned would be disqualified. Magistrate Hunt overcame the difficulty by dismissing the case and ordering the accused to pay £2 to the unemployment fund. The Dalmatians' choice of gambling had been hazards and ferro.