The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-09 00:00:00

APPREHENSION OF A GANG OF

GAMBLERS.
EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS AT
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
The greatest degree of excitement prevailed in the
.neighbourhood of Regent-street and Marlborough-street
yesterday morning, in consequence of the apprehension
of a numerous gang of gamblers, which had been effected
by the police the previous night, or rather at an early
hour yesterday morning.
The vicinities of the station-houses in which the cap-
tured prisoners were confined, and of the Police-court,
were crowded to excess.

As soon as the night charges had been disposed of
the cases were called on.
Mr. Hardwick was the presiding magistrate.
The following are the names of the prisoners :—Robt.
Salmon, Richard Marten, Richard Collett, Charles Wil-
liamson, John Willis, Abraham Lyon, Edward Kelly,
George Sampson, John Hilton, John Chapman, James
Thompson, Joseph Marten, John Lewis, Charles
Forster, J. Sheron, J. Jones, M. Rogers, J. Bullock,
Charles Humphries, - Arthur Mathews. John Savory,
Thomas Reed, Henry Barrett, John Jones, surgeon •
John Watkins, gentleman •, John Wilmot, waiter ; John
Humphrey, John Jones, Henry Beauclerk, gentleman ;
Edward Wright, gentleman ; Charles Wilson, gentle-
man ; Henry Beawick, gentleman ; William Johnson,
Walter Murray, gentleman (Army and Navy Club) ;
Thomas Russell, law agent ; Charles Craycroft, Thomas
Onslow, waiter ; John Carter, John Redman, George
Hicks, Henry Winfield, William Smith, John, Robert-
son, George Wilson, James Atkinson, George Smith,
Geo. Jenkins, Wm. Forbes, James Bliss, Wm. Wadd,
Henry Richardson, Henry Seymour, Chas. Macelroy,
John James, Thos. Howell, Geo. Reed, Geo. Johnson,
John Wilson, James Cripp, Thomas Wilson (door-
keeper) ; Henry Scott, John Godfrey, George Ledbetter,
Joseph Everett, Jonathan Reeves, 'William Williams
Leech, John Jones, John Watkins, J. W, Mott, John
Humphrey, John Jones, Henry Beauclerk, Edward
Wright, Charles Wilson, William Johnson, Thomas
Russell, Thomas Hounslow, John Carter, John Red-
man, and John Ward.
Lord Montford and several gentlemen were on the
bench. The Court was crowded to excess.
Shortly after twelve o'clock the first batch of five
prisoners was brought in and placed at the bar, namely,
Wm. Courty, Joseph Everett, Jonathan Reeves, Wm.
Williams, and Wm. Lftch.
Mr. Baker, the superintendent of the C division of
police, was the first witness called. Having produced his
authority, he stated that at one o'clock that morning
he entered the house, No. 60, Jermyn-street, St.
James's, called " The Cottage." He found Everett at
the front door. The first entry was made through
the window by means of a ladder, by Mr. Beresford.
Everett was then in the custody of a constable, on the
charge of acting as door-keeper. He then proceeded up
stairs, and found Courty in the first-floor front room,
and charged him with having the care and management
of the house, and residing and living on the premises.
Mr. Wilkins, the barrister, at this point requested that
the other officers might be excluded from the Court
while Mr. Baker was being examined.
Mr. Baker proceeded—l found the table in this room,
a roulette table and wheels complete, besides several
rakes and roulette balls, and two dice boxes were taken
from Mr. Courty's pocket. In a bank I found 366
counters, a pair of spectacles, and a pack of cards.
Reeves was also in the passage at the foot of the stairs,
and appeared as if he had just come down. Williams
and Leech I found in the front room first-floor, where

the gaming implements were found. When I entered
there was no gaming going on ; and the reply of Mr.
Courty to my questions was, that "he was just taking
a glass of brandy and water with his friends, who had
called in upon him."
Prisoner Courty—Which was the fact, Sir.
Mr. Baker continued—He was then removed to the
station in charge. . _ .

Cross-examined by Mr. Wilkins—Altogether I took
ten or twelve officers with me. Francis Evans is a re-
spectable householder, at the corner of Jermyn• street ;
he is a mercer. George Keeth is an ironmonger residing
in Brewer-street. These persons had complained to me.
They bad been churchwardens for the parish, and are
chosen again. One of the officers got in at the window
by a ladder. One of my officers had asked admittance
at the door. I cannot say that an attempt had been made
to enter at the door before the ladder was put to the
window. I did not hear Mr. Courty say that had we
waited a minute we should have been admitted. The

things produced were found in the first-floor room. I
saw Everett in the passage. One of my officers opened
the door to me.
Henry Beresford—l am one of the inspectors of the
C division. About one o'clock this morning I accom-
panied Mr. Baker to 60, Jermyn-street. I took a
ladder with me, as it had been arranged that if re-
sistance to our entry Was offered, we should make
our way in at the window. As I approached the
house I saw the door slammed to. I then took the lad-
der and placed it against the window, upon which Mr.
Courty, I believe, shut the shutters. I immediately
broke a pane of glass, and attempted to raise the sash,
but could not do so. I next attempted to break in the
sash with my foot, but at this moment four rounds of
the ladder broke, and I was very near falling back-
wards into the street, but caught hold of the ladder, and
although I hurt my hand very much, I saved myself from
falling. At this moment I heard the constables calling,
"It's all right—we are in," and I descended the ladder
and went into the house. To the best of my belief I
saw all five prisoners in the house, either in the room on
the first floor, or on the landing place. In one corner of
the room I found a roulette wheel, with one of the ordi-

nary table covers, and the other articles produced. I was
then directed to take the names of the various prisoners.
Courty was taken first. He said he was the servant
there in charge of the house. Everett said he was em-
ployed as porter ; and the others said they were merely
there, but had nothing to do with the house. They
were merely visiting there. The prisoners and imple-
ments were then taken to the station-house.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wilkins—When I went in the
implements were concealed—they were not visible until
I took the cloth off them. I saw the door slammed, but
could not say by whom this was done. The moment I
heard this I placed the ladder to the window.
Wm Rogers, 64 C—About one o'clock this morn •
ing I went, in company with Mr. Beresford, to 60,
Jermyn-street. When I got there I saw the door
opened, and rushed in. Everett immediately looked
out. I rushed forward, and another constable came up
and seized Everett. I went up stairs, and in the first-
floor front room took charge of the door. There were
three or four persons in the room, I cannot say which.
Mr. Baker and Mr. Beresford requested me to stop at
the door of the room while they searched the house,
and I did so. I know nothing more.
Mr. Wilkins—l have nothing to ask this man.
Wm. Morris, 173 C—l went with other constables
to 60,3 ermyn street. The door was opened. I rushed is
and took Everett into custody ; he was behind the door.
I went no further, but remained there while the others
went up stairs. Reeves was, at the time, coming down
stairs.
Mr. Wilkins submitted that the informer in this
case had utterly failed in making out his case ; and
there was no proof, in fact, that the house in question
was a gaming-house. There was no case in which a
conviction had taken place, in which the magistrate
convicting had not required proof that gaming was
going on at the time the officers entered. Here there
was nothing beyond mere suspicion ; true, a roulette
table was found, counters were found, cloths and cards
were found. These might be ground for a reasonable
suspicion of its being a gaming-house ; but it was no
proof. The articles in question might have been placed
there for a merely temporary purpose, and he submitted
that there was not a tittle of evidence to show that the
house had, in any one instance, been used as a gaming-
house. The police had found no sign or symbol of
gaming having taken place in the house. It was not
enough to show that Mr. Courty had the care and
management of the house. According to the terms of
the Act of Parliament they must produce the owner and
keeper of the house as a gaming-house. But there was
no evidence to show that Mr. Courty had any share in
the care and management of that house
kas gaming-
house ; and he might make the same remar wit
h r.egard
to
house,Dlr aEverett. n n ; mightmightbe a
bep r
thereter for
theth
e.
on, or ever had been
purpose of cleaning the shoes or boots of any gentleman
who came in with dirty ones ; and as to the other three
there was not the shadow of a case against them. Ac-
cordingleast, be proved to be going on. But
there was no evi-
dence to the 49th clause of the Act, playing must, at
going one in that house, or that it ever had in anywise
been used for the purposes of a gaming-house. He pre-
Mocer.ntEpvoer
sumed that the magistrate would require the same evi-
dence as a jury would require in a similar case, and if
rteertt
so there was no case at all.
to show that play was going
Mr. HARDWICK said Courty was charged with having
the care and management of the house as a gaming-
house, and the question was whether there was sufficient
evidence to establish that charge. All the preliminary
steps had been properly
taken ; the report of the Police
Commissioners had been produced ; the oaths of two
housekeepers, showing the grounds for their belief that
the house was a common gambling-house had been laid
before the Commissioners, who had then issued their
warrant for entering the house. The Magistrate then
took a review of the facts of the case as proved in evi-
dence, and said he thought that, under all the circum-
stances, the conclusion was a fair one, that Courty, who
had admitted that he had the care and management of
the house knew that it was used as a gambling-house.
He was found with gambling implements in the room,
and dice-boxes in his pocket, and these facts brought
him (Mr. Hardwick) to the reasonable conviction that
he must have been perfectly cognisant that the room
was used for gambling. He therefore felt it his duty to
impose a fine, the amount of which he would mention by
and by. With regard to Everett, he thought the charge
was also proved as against him ; respecting the °the/
three they were only charged with the minor offence
being present for an unlawful purpose.
Mr. Wilkins reminded the Magistrate that the imple