New Britain herald., 1925-05-09
Joseph Backus, Aged 20, Locked Up Fol- lowing. Sensational Break Expect Sec ond Arrest.
Players in What Police Claim Is Gambling Joint, Quickly Obey Order to Tickle the Clouds"

Throw up your hands and tickle the sky" was the command shot at a group of 13 card players seated around q table in Edward Willette $ apartment at 75 East Main street by one of two armed and masked men who entered the room at 8;30 o'clock last night, and proceeded tc fleece the card players to the extent Of s350.
 Cards were quickly dropped as the players jumped to their feet to obey the order. Lined face to the wall, the men stood as one of the duo, oi which Joseph Backus. aged 20, now locked up in police headquarters, is said to have been a member. went through their pockets and removed their money and yaluabics,
 Their mission completed, the two men. still masked and with gun in hand, dashed out of the room and into the street while the card play CTS stood in amazcment and then be- gan 10 compute the extent Of their oSIngs. Some time afterward q con- plaint was made at police headQuar- "rs and a detail from the detective bureau. headed by Chief Detective Sergeant William r. McCue, set out round up the suspects. The arrest 0s Backus followed shortly thcre- after, and he was placed in a cell, Pending the arrest of at least one J.her member of the gang that en- G!neered the hold-up, Backus wac not brought into police court this morning to be put to plea, and Chief of Police William C. Hart today ex- pressed a belief that the second ar rest will follow soon.
 Although there were apparently 5ut two who figured in the robbery the police believe there was also RI inside man." This man, seated among the card players was, In the opinion Of the department, waiting tor an opportune time 10 signal hie colleagues to make the dash into the room If there was such q person, he went through his part Of the act well, for the card players were con- pIetely off their guard and no effort at resistance was made when the gunmcn broke into the apartment.
 One of the card players had SIP n bills in his hand when the door was crashed in. He, too, raised his lands but as he held them aloft he pressed the bills against the palm of lis hand with his thumb, thereby saving SIP" This same individual proved the most heavy loser, how .ver. for he happened. to have sl59 in large bills in his pockets all of which was taken. Another man vas carrying his money in his cap He put the hat on quickly and d thorough search of his pockets brought no profits to the gunmcn SC they passed on to inc next in line Others who were not so quick to act lost every cent carried on their per sons,
 nirlng the somewhat lengthy process Of going through all the pockets of the 12 men. one dropped his hands a trihe and he was quickly ordered 10 grab the clouds"
 A good description of both men was furnished the police, l. wac as result Of this description that Backus was arrested and upon il also, the police depend for the ar rest Of second member of the party, Backus is about 20 years ui age and the scrutiny of the card players impressed them with the idea that the holl-up men were oi the same age.
 At police headquarters today, fl WAS stated that the Willctto apart. ment IS "an out-aud-out poker joint" l. was claimed that poker setback and craps are played there and that it Is a place Of unsavory reputation.