The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-25
GAMBLING FEVER
RIFE IN LONDON
Raids Reveal That Fashionables Rre
Addicted Since Ar1nistce-Fine
Houses Rented.

LONDON. Aug 2i.--The midnight
raid on the mansion on the Themes
riverside. when a number of fashiOnabiy
dressed nan and women were recently
arrested on charges of keeping and fire.
GucrtinE j gaming house, IS an indica-
ton that the authorities are fully alive
70 the increase Of establishments of this
description.
There IS hardly a fashionable pleas
urc resort in which gaming houses have
not been oprnrd--houScs in which play
is high. and whore considerable sums
change hands during tho night and
early morning. The business Is found
70 he extremely profitable. and so IS
considered we'll worth the risk Of
RAID by the police.
4 house agent recently found a tenant
for a larS" ruomy house with grounds
reaching down 10 the riverside. He was
glad enough TO let II. for II had long
been empty. The tenant gave references
and deposited 4 months rent. 1850. The
following day som" furniture arrived.
enough TO furnish TWO or three rooms.
These rooms were used solely for
gaming. and for fortnight the resort
was we'll patronizcd Then the furniture
was taken away and tho key Of the
house returned to tho agent. The pro-
fessional gamblers had made Their haul
and passed on 10 another desirable"
neigh borhood.
Gambler Loses All.
A gaming establishment on the south
coast WAS broken up through the rock
less play of q young fool who on the
night of his third visit lost every penny
he had. In his despair he attempted 10
commit suicide by throwing himself
from the balcony Of an upstairs window
The propricturS Of the establishment
did their utmost TO keep all knowledge
Of the affair from the authorities. but
il leaked out. and they made u rapid
eAit from the town.
4 syndicate Of gaming crooks not loaG
ago conceived plan for cvad.ng tho
! laws against gambling. They bough:
a large yacht and arranged 10 keep IT
/ some distance froc the shore. Clients
were to be carried 10 and fro from a
populous and thriving pleasure place.
On" Of tho gang talked TOO l"Idly. how
/ ever. and the syndicatc-one Of whom
+ was a we'll known figure in tho West
, End Of London-was informed that the
! scheme must be dropped.
But if We operate three miles out you
! have no power TO interfere" said III"
| ingenious CANISTER. That remains -
: l." seen" was the reply: at the worS:
! something might happen 10 your ship.
! Anyway. YOU will h. we'll advised T."
! drop the idea" So the floating gambling
| ship never came into existence.
Gaming Fever Increases.
4 detective officer who has had 4 wide
! and interesting cXper cncc IN dcalln1
with gaming houses declares that the
! love of gambling has increased since the
| armisiic"
| 1T would seem" he said. AS If mon
! and women grew more aud moro rcck-
: less as tho days speed on. Men who
| have suddenly become rich-and there
arc more such people than is generally
! rcalizCd-frcqucntly wager larE" sums
: on the turn OF n card. /; IS an lllustra
ton Of the old prorcrh, Easy come.
| easy go
| Some notion OF tho amounts that
: chang" hands VIII be gathered from the
! fact that in one house we radcd more
! than SIS COO was found on tho table.
! while all who were present were OF firm.
! substantial standing.
"Nur do III" raids deter those who
/ arc Grippcd by the gaming fever. The
! lines imposed are not deterrent. Why.
/ the proprietor Of a flash gaming house
: can max" enough in fortnight 10 keep
him N luxury the rest Of III" year.