Kinnon, Sergeant Ferguson (of the water front police), and Sergeant Bird, simultaneously raided the premises occupied by John Ryan, billiard saloon keeper, Vulcan Lane, Robert Porter and Charles Taylor, Coombe's Arcade, Lofty Richards and John Weston, British Buildings, and Daniel Twohill, Coombe's Arcade, respectively and detained all persons there-in on charges of being found in common gambling houses. It is fairly well known that, although the introduction of gaming legislation some two years ago made bookmakers' business illegal, a number of men who were formerly licensed still carry on flourishing businesses.
From time to time the police in various parts of the Dominion have made more or less successful attempts to suppress gambling of this character.
It appears that since Sergeant Ferguson took charge of the water front police he has noticed a great deal of gambling going on about the wharves and other places. It is understood that the raids made this afternoon were the outcome of many weeks of careful investigation, and that a great deal of evidence has been collected. Any premises on which betting of the nature carried on by bookmakers is permitted comes under the scope of the Gaming Act as a common gaming house, and the police are of the opinion that they held sufficient incriminating evidence to warrant them marking the raids.
When all the persons found on the premises in question, together with the principals, had been taken to the police station it was found that in all nearly 80 had been arrested. They were brought before justices, who let them all out on bail. The principals were released upon a bond of 200 each, and those found on the premises upon a bond of 10. All will appear in court tomorrow, when it is probable an adjournment will be asked for.
In connection with the raid a Star reporter climbed the stairs to the rooms occupied by a well-known turf commissioner, "Lofty" Richards.
Halting at the door a subdued murmur was plainly to be heard. Knowing that a trap had been set he walked hesitatingly away a few steps then back to the door, and after a pause timidly knocked.
That was enough. The door immediately flew open and out pounced two detectives. The poor pressman was firmly gripped by each arm and whisked into the room, the door being quickly closed behind him.
The room was filled with men, about 30 being present. At the table sat an unfortunate lady, who was presumably a client. Before her was piled the little heap of gold the police had taken from her, and all over the table were other heaps of gold, notes and silver.
Although there must have been hundreds of pounds on that little office table, and as each man present was in turn searched the pile was added to. At the rate of about one a minute fresh arrivals were being caught in the net.
There would come a knock at the door then in would pop an amazed person firmly in the grasp of the law officers, and would be lined up with the others to wait his turn to be searched and relieved of his property. When they recovered their amazement their remarks were frequently the reverse of complimentary.
• Good work was accomplished by wireless telegraphy during the passage of the Aorangi to and from San Francisco. A Mr L. L. Jones, the operator, picked up a message from San Francisco at a range of 2300 miles.
- ODT, 10.4.1912.
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