§ Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in 1394W connection with the raid by the police on the Chesterfield, Mount Bridge and Luncheon clubs; how many men arid women, respectively, were present; how many times the same owners have been convicted and the amount of fines in each case; and what action he intends taking about the matter?
§ Mr. PeakeThese two clubs, at which unlawful gaming was suspected, were entered by the police on 14th October. Thirty-two men were arrested at the Chesterfield Club, and twelve men and four women at the Mount Bridge and Luncheon Club. The following day the person in charge of the Chesterfield Club premises was fined £50 and ordered to pay 35 guineas costs, while the proprietor of the Mount Club was fined £10 and ordered to pay 15 guineas costs. The former of these two men had been previously convicted on 29th September last in respect of unlawful gaming at the same club, when he was fined £25 and ordered to pay 10 guineas costs; no previous conviction for this type of offence is known against the proprietor of the Mount Club. The remaining 46 persons found at these two clubs, with the exception of two who failed to appear, were bound over not to frequent gaming houses for 12 months. There is no power to order the closing of these clubs, but the police will continue to be vigilant in the enforcement of the law against unlawful gaming.