POLICE RAID CLUB

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 325, 10 April 1928, Page 1

POLICE RAID CLUB

Wellington Sensation FORTY-FIVE ARRESTS MADE (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, To-uay. THE sensational story of a police raid on an alleged gaminghouse, in a Wellington business quarter late last night was related before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.. in a crowded police court this morning when not fewer than 45 defendants were charged under the Gaming Act of 1908.

r pHE raid occurred shortly after 10 p.m., and there was a busy scene at the police station until the early hours of the morning, the majority of defendants telephoning to their friends to arrange bail. Detective Jarrold, with whom De-tective-Sergeant Holmes and Detective McLennan were associated in the raid, told the magistrate that the raid was carried out with a special warrant. He and other detectives went to 2 Herbert Street, at 10.15 p.m., and when he rang the bell at a door on the top floor, he heard a noise like a stampede taking place inside. He broke the glass panel and opened the patent lock, and entered two other doors by breaking the wood panels in a similar manner. On entering the club he found the 45 defendants on the premises. A search was made and dice, dice boxes, cards and all the implements of gaming were found on the premises. Since early in 1926 until recently the premises were kept by one of the defendants, and later registered as the Premier Club. This morning Thomas Dwyer, aged 50, steward, and Francis Patrick Law, aged 40, taxi proprietor, were charged with keeping a common

gaming house. They were remanded on bail of £IOO until April IT. A similar remand was granted in the case of Isaac Kutner, aged 40. boxing manager, who pleaded not guilty to assisting in the conduct of a gaming house. One defendant, who did not appear, told the police on arres* that he would plead guilty. lie was fined £3 with costs. Five other defendants who did not appear were fined like amounts. The remaining 39, who pleaded not guilty, were remanded to March 17. a,nd were allowed bail. The “Dominion” states that the occupants of the club were startled by crashing blows on the door. A member went to investigate and. it is said, he narrowly escaped serious injury when an iron bar, wielded from outside, 1 splintered the panel*of the door and just missed his head by a hair'sbreadth. The next moment the attacking force, which proved to be a large body of detectives and police, forced its way into the premises. A big motor policevan was brought up to the door of the club and batches of men found on the premises were hustled into it and conveyed to the Central Police Station. Five trips in all were made.