The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-23
RICHMOND BILLIARD
ACADEMY RA|OEO
Policemen Surprise Negro Watchmcn
and Break Up Game in Which
Stakes Were Big.
FIVE MEN UNDER ARREST
Proprietors and Three Clients. Al
legged to Have Been i'm Game OF
Crap" Landed by Police Squad.
Sweet Arrests the pile"

On charges of violating the anti
gambling laws of the state. five men
were arrested about o'clock yester-
day afternoon when a squad of police
men raided the Richmond Billiard
academy. S2S East Main street and
broke up an elaborate crap" game al
legged to have been in progress on one
of the pool tables in the place. De-
tective Sweet was in charge of the
raid. and was assisted by Captain
sherry and Policemen Archie Holt and
j. II. Harris
Sidney Wilbon and Willie Sampson.
proprietors of the pool room. were ar
rested on charge of running a gam
bling house. and II. f. Yates, George
Henry and r. S. French were taken
into custody charged with taking part
in the game. George Burroughs. a
negro Waterman. employed to guard
the door and give the alarm should of
ficers approach was arrested also
charged with resisting officers in dis
charge Of their duty.
BniIed For Appearance Today.
The men arrested were taken to the
First precinct police station. where
they were bailed for their appearance
this morning IN police court a large
crowd of spectators were in the place
NatEhliE tli' Raiif' pdt iiSs were IA .
lowed to go free. The room was filed
with men. some OF whom were playing
pool and billiards. others grouped
about the crap-table. but only three
men were arrested charged with par
ticipating in the game.
Detective Sweet stated yesterday
that he has had the place under sur
veillance for some time and has en-
tered the room number OF times be-
fore. Each time. however. his presence
had been announced by signal from
the Waterman, and he could gather no
evidence Yesterday he learned that a
big game was going on. and with the
assistance at -tha-athar- officers
ceeded in making surprise attack be
fore evidences OF the game could be
hidden.
The billiard academy. the detective
said, has acquired the very picturesque
title Of The Bucket OF Blood" by
which name ~ is Familiarity known TO
its clientele The name has grown out
OF the fact that numerous fights have
occurred in the place, some Of which
resulted in men being almost killed. II
is said 20 have been notorious resort
for gamblers where q big crap game
was in progress practically all the
time.
The last pool table In the rear Of
the room was used as the gambling
table and was equipped with an cleo
tric bell connected with a push button
In the hall. Near this button q negro
was hired to sit all day. and when un-
familiar persons were seen coming up
the steps. the alarm vas given and IN
entering the pool room they would see
nothing but pool being played
Caught on His Gusrd.
Yrster day, however, the negro was
surprised. and could not give the alarm
in time The policemen rushed into
the room before the dice and pile #
mouey could be removed from the table.
Yates il is said. grabbed the money
when he saw the officers enter the
door, but Sweet reached him in time
to take the money from him He
found that the roll on the table
amounted 20 s262.
IT Is further stated on authority shat
he raided house has become one Of
the most widely patronized gambling
houses to be found anywhere. and that
crap games are frequently held that
involve thousands OF dollars. Detec-
tive Sweet said Yesterday that nc knew
Of one game there last week in which
So eco lay on the table at one time. and
il has been said that often twice this
amount figures in game in the place.
For this reason. some Of the most
prominent men In the city are said to
frequent the place and play for large
stakes The 'jolnt" formerly admitted
only prescribed members OF the clan,
but its patronage grew until II became
almost public gambling house. Il is
sad that a number of we'll known men
were in the place yesterday when tho
raid was made. but that evidence wns
not sufficient for their arrest