Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-29
HELENA CLUB IS RA|DED;
MANAGER BOTTO ARRESTED
Twenty Alleged Gamblers Are Taken
to First Police Station
in Patrol.
FOUND LIQUOR BEING SERVED
Thirty-Two Crates Of Beer Confls-
Gated by Police After Raid.
Crowd In Street Blocks Traffic
When Rooms Are Raidet.

arrested him on n charge Of selling and
otherwise dispensing liquors to non
members OF tho club on Sunday: mr.
rested his son. ]. F. Botto. on n charge
! or maintaining n gambling house in
tho place. together with twenty al
legged gamblers found In the rooms on
tho second floor.
hundreds OF persons crowded about
the front OF tho club and for n ttme
blocked traffic. while the men were
being loaded in the patrol wagon md
taken to tho First Police Station.
Three loads Of men were made. while
two others were necessary before the
last OF the thirty-two crates of beer.
together with several odd bottles OF
beer and whisky taken from the place,
could be removed to the station house
Forsons arrested in the house on a
charge of gambling there gave their
names as follows: L. X Moore, Oscar
Kennedy, j. E. Thorpe. L. T.. Conner.
j. n. Thomas. ]. w. Wilson, John Finne-
gam Thomas Batkins, w. A. Simmons.
d. ". Durgan, j. F.. New, Tonev
Borosky. Steve Stocked. William Jones.
II. c. Stehbins, J. E. Collins, A. Henshel.
V. p. Jordan. Ralph Lee and T. NJ
Finnegan.
JUST AFTER NOON
Policemen Goldsby. Campodonicn.
Sweet. Police Sergeant Johnson and
Patrolman Waldrop made the raid Mt
ABOUT o'clock. The place has been
under surveillance for some time.
there having come to the police nu-
merous complaints rs to the existence
OF me club, 1t is said. Yesterday
foNcemen Goldsby and Campodonica
watched the house for some hours be-
lore they finally decided upon raiding.
warrant was secured from Justice OF
the Peace Purdie. and tho officers
started for the place. The other Of
icers were communicated with. and a
plan OF action decided upon.
Sergeant Johnson met Policeman
"aldrop on the corner near the club,
ana they stood talking together for
some time. without giving an alarm
fo!icemen Goldshy and Campodon!ca,
no we're In citizens clothes. with Po-
!!cenan sweet. went further down Main
street and boarded car. They
emerged from 1t when 1t stopped d.
rectiy In front OF the club Without
me loss OF moment, the officers en-
tered the place with Goldsbv and
g., Iampooon!ca leading the way They
met James l. Botto near the door. and
ne. not knowing them, waived them
In Goldsby and Campodonica hurried
GOWN 10 the basement while Sergeant
Johhson and Policemen Sweet and
"aidrop FASTENED upstairs 10 the
second floor. where the gambling is
ahesed 10 have been In progress
WHISKY AND BEEN nEING
DISPENSED IN CELLAR
Goldsby and Campodonica gained the
cellar OF the building and remained
"atchihS the dispensing OF beer and
WHISKY several minutes before they
were discovered It Is alleged Accord
ing 10 the officers, the place was one
OF the worst into which they have
been In years. Filth and refuse matter
o. al kinds Uttered the floor 1t Is said.
while i, was difficult to walk with
'ut stumbling over empty beer bottles
According to the officers. they found
'hat "hiie the club had the right 70 dis
Hense bottled liquors 20 bona fide club
members on Sunday, and while mem
he3s had the right TO use this liuuor
from their lockers. IL was a violation
OF the law TO carry on the general dis
pensinS business which they claim was
IN progress In the basement According
10 'he officers. there was nothing with
ing the club-ooms to show who we're
members. no identification was nee
cssa!y Tor man TO secure either beer
or whisky In the place, and there was
'othinS in any OF the lockers, other
-. J. n
DE employed In one OF the city deDart
'!.ents. is alleged to have had the one
Key 20 all of the forty-eight lockers
in the basement
CHARGE MANY MEN
WITH GAMBLING
While Goldsby and Campodonica were
-aidtng the alleged blind tiger" In tho
cellar, Sergeant Johnson and Policemen
sweet and Waldrop were raiding the
"a n6 III i,,rr
100. arc said TO have gained entrance
into the rooms before they stopped their
rush UP the steps. Several games ara
SAID to have been in progress. more
han thirty men being engaged in them,
1t is thought When the uniforms were
seen there was general and mad rush
Tor the windows and doors. Several
ieaped from the windows and ESCAPED
while the others were herded together
and held until the arrival Of the patrol.
All were sent to the police station,
where they were bailed later.
The police say that the clubrooms
and the saloon are located on the street
door OF the building. Entrance tc
;he club is through them. Yesterday
all of this floor was dark. 1T "a said.
The alleged bling tiger and tho room
from which the beer and whisky were
taken by the officers was located in
the basement. The alleged gambling
house was located on the second floor,
while there ware two beds. for Club
members" on the top floor.
COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN
MADE OF GAMBLING
It Is said that the majority Of tho
persons who have been reported as
gambling In the house are men work
ing for rather small salaries Several
men are said TO have lost considerable
sums OF money In the place and to have
allowed their families to suffer as q re-
suit This fact Is reported as having
led to The complaints to tho police.
At the First Police Station James I.
Botto was balled in the sum Of $500
for his appearance In the Police Court
this morning by James Mckinley.
Botto then bailed his son, charged with
operating the gambling rooms, In the
sum OF 5000. and also furnished bail
for each of the twenty alleged gamblers
found In the place.