Mayfair Hostess of Gaming House

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 370, 26 February 1937, Page 8

Mayfair Hostess of Gaming House

FINED £lOO DBSPITE PLEA THAT SHE DID IT FOR HOSPITAL

A Mayfair woman, Margaret Manley, aged 42, who said she ran gaming parties on behalf ot a hospital, was fined £lOO with £5O costs at Bow street (London). Her associate, Ene Marcus, aged 34, was fined £5. Both pleaded guilty to having been soneerned together in keeping and managing certain premises in Alford street, Park lane, as a common gaming house. Eight persons accused of frequenting the premises were bound over for six months in the sum of £5 each. Superintendent Henry Dalton said when he visited the. premises under a warrant with other officers he saw nine persons sitting around a baize-covered table. ‘‘Mrs Manley told me,” he said, ‘that she takes 5 per cent, of the winnings. “From these winnings she pays expenses for refreshments, drinks and a croupier, and the remainder she sends to Golden square hospital. Mrs Marcus was paid two guineas for acting as croupier.’*

The officer produced three receipts for sums of £25, £l2, and £25 sent to the hospital. The superintendent said he estimated that in about one and a-half hour’s play nearly £4OO had changed hands. Mr Eric Dodds (for ah the defendants) said that some years ago Mrs •Manley’s son was cured at Golden square hospital. She was not then able to give a subscription, and began these gaming parties to help the hospital. They were always properly run, and if required he could call evidence that Mrs Manley had sent £lB2 to the hospital. The magistrate said that it was apparent that this was a gaming house on a substantial scale, and that the winnings must have been substantial.