RAID ON A GAMBLING CLUB. The London Police Continue Their Raids on Gambling Clubs. Forty-two Prisoners.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 408, 5 October 1889, Page 3

RAID ON A GAMBLING CLUB. The London Police Continue Their Raids on Gambling Clubs. Forty-two Prisoners.

At the Thames Police-court, Geo. Wood ley, an advertising agent, of 28, Sparsholt road, Crouch-hill ; and William Linskey, 5, Hafc-field-street, St. Luke's, were charged with keeping and using 65.\. High-street, Whitechapel, known as the Tower Hamleta Club, for the purpose of betting ; and forty persons of vicious callings were charged with using tho abovo club for purposes of gambling. Superintendent Arnold deposed : Armed with a warrant, I went about 3.30 yesterday, to 65a, Hiprb-streot, Whitechapel. At the door 1 found Linskey. I told him] I wanted the key of the door, which f he at once produced, and admitted me. I proceeded upstairs and directed Linskey to knock at a door, which I found closed. Tho door was opened, and I and other officers entered. In the room were a number of men standing about, and others sitting at a table playing cards. Money was on the table. I directed Inspector Cau^by to seize the money and to take charge of tho persons there. I then went into an inner room and j-aw Woodley sitting at a table making an-entry in a book. I found the book contained entries of betting transactions at Pontefracfc and Brighton. At this point, Mr Lushington, having read the Act of Parliament on the subject, said the case appeared to be one for a summons, which would be issued ab once and made returnable forthwith. The defendants were then told to stand down. Later in the day the case against Woodley and Linskey was again gone into, and Mr Myers stated he was now instructed to defend Linskey. Superintendent Arnold 'repeated the evidence already given by him, and added, on taking possession of the book he told Woodley they were police officers, and he and the others were to consider themselves in custody. He said to Woodley, ' You, I presume, are in charge of the room ?' He said, ' Yes, lam responsible for^the betting, and will take all responsibility^ on myself.' Witness then directed that the name of each person should be taken, and forty-one persons were afterwards conveyed to the Lemanstre«fc police-station. Tho piemises were searched. About 1,100 playing cards, rules lelabing to baccarat, and other documents were found. The police took possession of these. Witness took Woodley to Leman-street, and when there he handed him eight slips of paper relating to betting, and seven sheets of paper which had been taken from the book referred to, and which the defendant said related to the previous day' 3 work. Woodley said, 'I admit using this room for betting purposes. I pay a weekly rental, and have done so for the past three months.' -He aflorded witness every facility, and gave direct answers to every question. By Mr Myers : Linskey, who offered no resistance, said he was the doorkeeper, and received £1 a week. He believed Woodley's character to bo good. He had received direct complaints about this club. Inspector W. Causby, H. Division, corroborated, and' stated that in the first room he saw tour men playing cards. Money was on the table. He heard Woodley say he rented the room for betting purposes, from two o'clock until five o'clock in the afternoon, poying £2 10s a week rent. There was a ' tape ' machine at work, and the 1 fclips ' were posted on a board in the room in which Woodley was sitting, Mr Myers, for Linskey, said his client was a very poor man, and he simply acted as a servant. Woodley admitted the betting, but did not admit he kept tho club. He had nothing to do with the card-playing. Mr Lushington said the case was a serious one. Woodley was fined £100 and 2s costs, or, in default, three months' hard labour. Linskey was fined£2o, oronemonth'& labour. The other charges were withdrawn. Linskey was allowed a fortnight, in which to pay the money ; but Mr Lushington refused to give Woodley any time.