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Doings In Gaming Houses

'DEVILISH DOINGS IN A "HELL." '

In 'Doings in London,' a work published as lately as the year
1850, we find under this startling title a strange story.

'A scandalous scene of violence, which often happens at these
places, but seldom becomes publicly known, on account of the
disgrace attending exposures, occurred lately at a low "hell" in
King Street, St James's. A gentleman who had lost considerable
sums of money at various times, announced his full determination
never to come to a place of the sort again with money. His
visits, therefore, were no longer wanted, and so orders were
given to the porters not to admit him again. About two o'clock
on a subsequent night, which happened to be Saturday, he sought
admittance, and was refused. A warm altercation ensued in the
passage between him and the porters, which brought down some of
the proprietors. One of them--a powerful man--a bankrupt
butcher--struck him a tremendous blow, which broke the bridge of
his nose, covered his face with blood, and knocked him down. On
getting up he was knocked down again. He arose once more, and
instantly received another blow, which would have laid him upon
his back, but one of the porters by this time had got behind him,
and as he was falling struck him at the back of his head, which
sent him upon his face. The watch had now arrived, into whose
hands the keeper of the "hell" and the porter were given. At the
watch-house they were ordered to find bail. The gentleman was
then about quitting, when he was suddenly called back. A certain
little lawyer, who alternately prosecutes and defends keepers of
gaming houses, was sent for. He whispered to the ex- butcher to
charge the gentleman with stealing his handkerchief and hat,
which, it was alleged, had been lost in the affray. Though
nothing was found upon the gentleman, who desired to be searched,
this preposterous and groundless charge was taken, and the
hellites admitted to bail; but the gentleman who had been so
cruelly beaten, being charged with a felony on purpose to cause
his detention, and the power held by magistrates to take bail in
doubtful cases not extending to night-constables, he was locked
up below with two wretches who had stolen lead, and five
disorderlies--his face a mass of blood and bruises--and there
detained till Monday morning, in a most pitiable condition. The
magistrate before whom the party appeared on that day,
understanding that the affair took place at a gaming house,
dismissed both complaints, leaving the parties to their remedy at
the sessions.'

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