HC Deb 16 March 1885 vol 295 cc1233-4
MR. O'SULLIVAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the police ever visit those clubs in Dublin which had connected with them men who were convicted for card-sharping and betting; and, whe- ther it is a fact that the only time the police were ever known to enter any of those betting clubs was on one occasion when they were called in to arrest one of the parties for stealing a watch?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Sir, the police frequently visit each one of these clubs. They are not aware that any of the members of the clubs were ever convicted of card-sharping. On one occasion a member of one of the clubs called for and obtained the assistance of a detective to arrest a member of the same club for the alleged larceny of a watch. The case proved to be one of unlawful detention without criminal intent, and the magistrate before whom it came dismissed it.

MR. BIGGAR

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether the police have ever visited the Stephen's Green Club, where a large amount of gambling goes on nightly?

[No reply.]