New Britain herald., 1918-05-01
W0RkMAN'S CLUB
 CASES IN COURT
Raid on C0lOred Club Where It Is
 Said Cards Are Played

Why did you hide behind the piano?' asked Prosecuting Attorney George W. kIett of Theodore Blas- sindane, one of the members of the Workman's club-an organization of colored men-in police court this morning, when charged with gam bling and frequenting a place resorted to for gambling. The testimony was that he was found hiding behind the piano. His answer was:
 'Who wants to be locked up on Sunday morning."
 Asked to explain how he had S32.90-the bills being all crumpled up and loosely showed in his pockets when he was paid $15 on Friday night he said: T suppose it just accumulated"
 Testimony was given that the prac- tice in the club is to pay five cents to pay the expenses of the club, after each game. Was any money paid in while Lewis was absent?" Bas- sindane was asked. and he answered.: Not while I was there"
 Robert Lewis was charged with conducting a place resorted to for gambling. He pleaded not guilty Theodore Blassindane, Elmer Gaston, Dock OgIesby, John M. Henderson, Frank Suffers, Richard Edwards, James Houston, David Brown, Mor- ris Logan, Edward Taylor, George McDaniel and George Jackson were charged with gambling and an addi- tional charge of frequonting a place rosorted to for gambling, was added. All pleaded not guilty to both counts
 
 counsel for them, After the state completed it's side of the case the charge of gambling was held against only Blassindanc, Henderson, Houston and McDaniels.
 Sergeant William C. Hart. who led the raid, said that Henderson spoke to him about getting out of it" He was willing to tell anything 10 get off He said they played cards for money and the stakes were small The sergeant told Of finding Blassin- dane hiding behind the piano When the officers gained admittance to the room the five against whom the gam bling charge was pressed were seated about table. Before entering the building at 29S Main street where the club was located they heard the clink of coins and the rattle of cards.
 Henry Gurley, colored, said that Lewis got a 'rake on'' after each game of cards. He was reluctant about testifying to certain facts and Prosecutor Klett had to remind him he was under oath. Then Gurey ad- mitted that he had made statements off the stand different from those made on the stand. He said that a friend had called the game skin" He was not a member of the club. Patrolmen Patrick HowleN, John Carlson and Anderson testified, John Carlson stated that complaint was made to him by a Bridgeport colored man that he had lost S14 in the club. He heard some man say "That's my queen" Prosecuting Attorney Klett laid emphasis on the fact that there were no ladies" in the club at the time of the raid.
 Henderson went on the stand for the defense and he told of practices in vogue in the club. He didn't touch a card Saturday night and never gambled at the place. The club has dances Wednesday nights and there is usually a punch bowl | there. After each drink they pay five cents The house gets five cents after each game of cards. Fender son said he usually attends Wednes- day nights to be "sociable". On Saturday nights there is usually whist tournament at the club. Some of the stuff taken in the raid was brought into court. The brands of ] drinkables included "old horse car whiskey'' and somo other favorite 1 distills. One bottle contained turpcn- | tine and MT. Henderson said that was l used on the floor before dancing. Testimony was given for tho de- 1 fense by Blassindane. He included \ Oglesby as one of the card players l Saturday night,
 During the proceedings it was | brought out that Blassindane had s3290. Henderson had $36.S0, Taylor