Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-26
GAMBLE IN MANSION
Miniature Monte Carlo Found
in Nobleman's Home.
CONDUCTED BY SERVANTS
Plain Clothes Men Learn Secret
After Months Of Watching.
ROULETTE WHEEL A FEATURE
Place Had Been Patronized by Army
Officers, Clubmen and
Others.
CONDUCTED BY SERVANTS
ROULETTE WHEEL A FEATURE
Correspondence OF The star.

famous Of London houses, q distinguished
nobleman, might still have been in ig-
norance of the fact that something like
a miniature Monte Carlo had for years
past been conducted by his menserr-
ants in the basement Of his town man.
sion. Unknown to those outside its cir
Gle of patrons, the gambling den had
fiourished to a remarkable extent-so
much so that it's clientele, which had
originally consisted of buffers, Wallets.
footmen and other members of the house
holds of the wealthy classes, soon in
cluded many army officers. wealthy young
members of well known families and
fashionable men about town.
That this gambling establishment should
have been run on big scale for sew
eral years-the principals made small for
tunes out of ft-withOut the secret leak
ing out seems almost incredible. Yet
such, indeed, was the case, and 1t was
only the extensive nature of the concern
| which eventually led to suspicion being
aroused.
The story of the discovery of the gam
bling den is a most remarkable one, and
was related by the owner of the man.
/ sion, the distinguished nobleman in ques-
1 ton, at a recent dinner party. Since the
| beginning OF last year he had noticed
/ that his town residence was being con-
i stantly watched by plain-clothes police
/ officers, but he attached no Significance
| to this surveillance. Some time in the
was astonished to receive a call from a
well known police official, who asked
I him how many menServants he en-
| ployed. Somewhat surprised at such in
| formation being desired by the detective,
he asked for reasons, and the reply he
received was the now famous advice Of
Mr.. Asquith-"Wait and see."
Tells Of Servants Employed.
The detective was informed that r..
lordship usually had hall porter and
half a dozen footmen, butler and an
assistant butler, and that there were a
groom Of the chambers and a couple OF
Wallets for the nobleman and his SON
about a dozen. or one or two more, male
servants, liable at any time to be In
creased by others arriving from one or
more of the owners country places for
large entertainments given by her lady
ship. In regard to the length Of service
of one particular retainer, his lordship
was questioned. The reply was that
so and so had been for years in his en-
ploy, and was a most trusted person.
The detective apologized for not giving
the nobleman any satisfactory reason
either for his call or for the watching
Of the house. which the officer confessed
had been in progress for over twelve
months.
Two or three weeks ago the detective
(who sent up card inscribed. Capt. -,
Royal Engineers, retired, doubtless so
as not to arouse suspicion among the
footmen) called again. For half a dozen
years the basement OF the great house
had been used as q gambling den for
'gentlemen's gentlemen. otherwise the
Wallets, buffers. footmen and other men
servants Of persons of distinction in Lon
searched by the peer and the detective,
and then the owner discovered that two
Of the powdered-hair footmen. who had
been several months in his employ, were
Also detectives. and had been getting up
the case, M4s
A large room; supposed to be bed
room, was found to contain perfectly
poised roulette wheel and all the fittings
of small Monte Carlo. There were
scores Of packs of cards and several
luxurious appointments In the way OF
buffet. wine cooler, easy chairs and so
forth. In part of the space which the
owner supposed was occupied by bins
for his store of wines there were two
more gambling rooms with all kinds OF
tables for the due manipulation Of cards.
and these rooms. 1t was explained. were
principally used by the servants of visit
ing families.
All in the Secret.
The other and better furnished room
was reserved for some gamblers in
quite a superior status. Over all this
one servant nightly presided at such
times as the town house was open. and
often was represented by trusted TEL
low-servant when the family were at
one Of their country seats. All the
servants were in the secret, and were
under solemn vows Of fidelity, their re-
ward being share in the weekly prof.
its OF the concern, which sometimes
amounted to hundreds OF pounds. The
detective explained that there was not
going to be any prosecution, as 1t was
legal question to what extent such
an action could be carried. Besides,
1t was desirable to avoid public scan
DIAL IL the extraordinary evil. could be
otherwise exterminated.
Attention was first drawn to the
house by the numerous men who SEEM
emerging from the servants door at
all hours Of the night. and sometimes
during the day. An ordinary number
of visitors would not have been no.
ticed. as servants. especially those VINO
serve the wealthy upper classes, have,
like their masters. their own social
circle Still. when the detectfve-and
there is always a detective watching q
great London mansion where plate and
other valuables are stored-noticed
that "gentlemen's servants seemed TO
call in dozens night after night at the
mansion he was guarding he had MS
curiosity aroused. and, soon reported
what he had noticed to his superiors.,
More detectives were put on guard.
and the chief officer in charge was
somewhat dumfounded to learn that
among the supposed servants calling at
night and staying for hours In the
ba sement Of Lord -@s house were
a number Of gentlemen and young no
blemen. army officers and fashionable
men about town. all sinking In and
slouching out Of the servants entrance
with upturned coat collars. and very
evident desire mot to be recognized.
Surprise Was Great.
For some days the nobleman was busy
getting over his establishment. and learn
| ing more of what really had been hap
pening actually beneath his feet. He
succeeded In extracting confirmation
among his friends. although he had much
difficuity In doing so. He had to give
his solemn assurance that thereorou!d
be no public scandal or any legal proceed
ings. The servant In question. 1t seems,
| had been at the business nearly six years.
| He had made q large fortune. and sever
| al OF his fellow-servants had shared to
such an extent In the profits OF the tables
| that they had now become hotel or pub
lic-house keepers or some other kind Of
prosperous tradeSmen..
IT is generally agreed that all gambling
was absolutely Square" to use . well
/ understood expreSSiOu. The roulette