The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-11-14
.oNpoR GAMBLING TlPa
Revelations es an Illicit but Paying
Industry.


From time to time great public SUI
prise is expressed when the announce
uent % made in the newspapers thas
a quiet, respectable looking house N
an apparently humdrum Lodon neigh
horhood has been raided by the poles
and tho propristocs heavily fined tof s
occupying the premises Tor purposes
Of illegal gaming.
only few. weeks ago two foreigners
were ared e30o-and this was inc
seventh occasion On which they nae
been fnea-for using largo house IN n :
a fashionable West Ead square as the
headquarters Of gambling den iarS
ly frequented by gilded youths ana
those idlers who prefer TO make Nv.
ing by any other means than ny aaEo
work. The fine was paid at ooee. and
On the judge expressing his suTpriss
that 50 heavy a penalty was always
paid by the proprietors vitho1t any
difficulty, he was informed BY . Wetl-
known police inspector that the profits
Of fashionable London gambling den
frequently amounted to as much a.
$500 in single week. =
In order, therefore, to fathom tns
mystery Of this heavy margin OF proas
derived from keeping gambling den1,
the writer, accompanied by q 9la'a-
clothes officer, paid q visit to several
establishments on which for some
time the police have had watchfu
eye. The greatest secrecy is inVarta-
bly, exercised by the keepers OF these
haunts to prevent any one being sd-z
nitted who is likely to split and
give information to the YARD which
will justify warrant being issued and
raid made on the premises.
The interior Of gambling den pre-
sents q spectacle which those who
pay call" for the first time win
never forget. Heavy curtains e1ectu-
ally keep out the daylight even or
the warmest summer day, while g
ianitor of unpleasantly Dugilisac ap-
pearance guards the door, ready TO
eject every client who shows 8 dtsDo-
sition to complain of hds losses navzHg:
been brought about by Unfair meanR
In the far corner Of the room during
racing hours a tape machine, giving:
the winners and starting prices, tescS
merrily away, while around q Long
table covered with green baize st,
hour after hour, crowds Of haraaeas'
excited looking gamblers registering
their wages and eagerly discussing
the chances Of the various candidates
for each race. s; s.5s5
As general rule, faro Is the game
most dear to the heart Of the gambling
den proprietor, for on each hand dealt
charge Of sixpence Is made, and, az
frequently upward Of sixty hands are
dealt in an hour, it can be easily uncs
] derstood that the dealers commission
soon swells into very considerable
sum. Anu not q moment Of the day
is wasted. From early one morning
| until early the next morning some;
game Of chance Is being played, and
as even the most ayaricious gameStef
required a few hours sleep. the pro-.
prietor invariably has two or thTso
friends ready to take charge OF thinss
while he turns in'' for a short time. s
Perhaps one Of the most striking
! features Of well-organized gambling
den Is the elaborate system Of keeping.
In touch with the movements OF the
police. For instance, spiss are from
! morning until night on watch outside
to give notice OF any suspicious move.
! ment on the part Of the gentlemen "a
blue" while the approach OF any
strangers In plain clothes to tho tbs
building Is Invariably signailed to tha.
doorkeeper, so that time is allowed to:
conceal the various implements e2
gambling should a raid be eontem.
plated.