“TWO UP” DEN

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 6

“TWO UP” DEN

GAMING CHARGES SEQUEL TO HAMILTON RAID PROPRIETOR FINED £BO LONG WATCH BY THE POLICE Beer, women, music, with card gambling and a form of “ two-up ” with dice were some of the “ attractions ” at a Hamilton gaming-house in the upstairs premises of 7 Hood Street, which was raided by the police on Friday, according to the description of Sergeant T. Kelly, when the -ten men arrested there came before the magistrate. Mr S. L. Paterson, in the Magistrate's Court. Hamilton, to-day. “ There is definite evidence of the place being a gaming-house, It also appears to be a sly-grop shop, but regarding the moral aspect of “ dump ” I leave it to Your Worship's imagination.” said Sergeant Kellv. Nelson Joseph Me Knight (35), a plumber, was charged with being the occupier of the premises and allowing them to be used 41s a common gaming-house at varjpius times between April 10 and Friday night. Represented by Mr N. S. Johnson, accused pleaded guilty. He was convicted and fined £SO in default six weeks’ imprisonment. Details of Fines The men charged with being on the premises were Raymond Trevor Childs 29), a plasterer, who was arrested with 14s 6d in his possession: Colin Browne (32 , clerk, with £5 10s 4d: Edward Richard O'Brien (40), labourer. with 19s lOd; Roderick Treleaven (26', plumber, with 18s sd; Keith Morris 31). labourer, with 10s lid; Em Bain (37)-, labourer, with £3 3s 9d; Norman Wallace (46), timber worker, with £2 2s 3d; Norman Davies (38), labourer, with 12s, and Hector Freeman Alfred Willcocks (29), butcher, with £4 16s sd. Childs had been previously convicted for the same offence, and he was fined £3, In default seven days’ Imprisonment. The others were each fined £2, in default five days’ imprisonment. The Raid Described Details of the raid were given by Sergeant Kelly. He said at about 9.35 p.m. on Friday night with Sergeant Farrell and a squad of constables he executed a search warrant on the premises. On entering the upstairs room witness saw cash on a green cloth table which was 10 feet by five feet in else. There was a vacant seat at the table. McKnight was then not in the room. When he arrived back, however, he took the unoccupied seat. Sergeant Kelly then read the search warrant to the ten persons in the room. He told them to consider themselves under arrest charged with being in a common gaming-house. McKnight was arrested for being the proprietor. On the table were dice, a croupier stick and a shaker, which McKnight told the sergeant were his. He wanted the dice returned. McKnight told the sergeant that he gambled with the "boys” one night about once a month. He supplied the beer for the "boys.” At the time of the raid there were six large bottles of beer under the table near McKnight. Peep-hole In Room In the room was a hole sin x sfn punched through the wall In the southern side. The hole was connected with a bell press in the yard and when the bell was pressed a green flap was lifted and a view of the person seeking admittance could be obtained. At the time of the raid there was no light showing at the bell press and when the bell was sounded McKnight had to go down the stairs to invite his "guests” in. In doing so on Friday night he opened the heavy door at the foot of the stairs which was fitted with a slide and Constable Crisp slipped In behind him and rushed upstairs followed bv Constable Mills and Sergeants Kelly and Farrell. There was a rug over the window of the room and a radio was playing In order to drown the sound. When the raid was on there were partly consumed glasses of beer before each man. A search for evidence revealed some betting charts under the radio and others on the mantlepiece. In addition there were two pieces of wood used for gaming purposes in a cricket game. At 9.50 p.m.. while an Inventory was being taken of the cash in the possession of the persons found ip the house two men came into the room. They offered excuses for their presence" which the magistrate would probably be called to decide later. Sergeant Kelly referred to visits made by persons to the premises at varying times. At about 1.40 a.m. on April 20 one male in company with a woman left and at 2 a.m. two men in company with a woman left, all slightly intoxicated. On April 21 a party of three entered at 3.45 a.m. and were still there at 5 a.m. “ Bllghtly Intoxicated ” At 1.40 a.m. on April 23 four persons left, all being slightly Intoxicated. One of these appeared to be McKnight. Constable Crisp then entered the premises and called out; “Any one home?” A voice, not McKnight’s. answered “ Yes.” It was a man apparently in a drunken stupor. He did not stir and the constable left. On May 6, a Friday night, eleven persons entered, including a woman and a Chinese, between 8.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Five left before that hour, the woman apparently staying behind. The next night. Saturday, eight persons. including Chinese, entered. At 11.45 p.m. three persons left, and one of these counted his money, and said "I made four quid.” One person was heard by a constable to say: “I bet you two quid.” The following Friday 10 people were seen to enter. At 8.15 p.m. the window was closed, the rug drawn over the window, and McKnight had locked the door at the foot of the stairs. At 10.20 p.m. an argument over money matters commenced. The next night many entered and one coming out said: “ You took thirty bobs out of there,” and a few minutes later the same voice said; " Two quid or nothing.” While police were shadowing the premises they repeatedly heard the shaking of dice and the fall of coins on the table. “ Parody on Two-up *• " The came is a parody on pitying two-up with coppers.” said Sergeant Kelly in describing the game played. ’ nice were marked with white crosses for heads and black for tails. Three I were thrown In a silenced shaker and

those who bet on the majority won. The double charts found in the room were described by the Sergeant as being from a well-known bookmaker who was “ contaminating the