South Yorkshire Times — Friday, 29 June 1934
Betting Houses
Raids At Mexboro’ and Conisboro’
Police raids on houses at Mexborough and Conisborough resulted in several men being summoned at Doncaster on Saturday for gaming offences.
Charles Smith, bookmaker, Mexborough, was fined £10 for keeping a betting house at 1, Orchard Street, Mexborough, and Robert Wilkinson £1 for permitting his house to be used for the purpose.
Mr. R. C. Linney (prosecuting), said that when the premises were kept under observation on May 16th, 17th and 25th about 70 persons used them each day. The police raided the house on May 26th, and found 60 slips relating to 145 bets.
Mr. A. S. Furniss, who pleaded “guilty” for the defendants, said Smith was discharged wounded from the army and was unable to obtain work. Wilkinson was his stepfather, and got nothing out of the business. The betting was of a very small variety.
Similar summonses were preferred against Harry Glancy, bookmaker, Mexborough (keeping), and George Hawcroft, miner, Mexborough (permitting), and they were fined £20 and £5 respectively.
Mr. Linney said the premises were under observation on May 16th, and 30 persons used them, between 2 and 4 p.m. On the following day 65 persons used them, and on the 25th they numbered 74, between a third and half of the users being women. When the house was raided 149 slips covering 397 bets, for £14 16s. 6d., were found.
In answer to the charge Glancy said, “It’s coming a bit thick, three times in the year.”
Mr. W. L. Crawford (defending) said Glancy had been raided three times in a year, and he was smarting that he should be singled out like that. His business was extremely small. He had 14 years’ army service, being wounded and discharged with a temporary pension, which was stopped after 12 months. He then started the bookmaking business. He discounted aged betting by women. In June of last year he was fined £8, and in November £50. When the house was raided only £12 was found, and it was the takings for the day and represented a loss of £4 to him. “It makes me wonder why the business is carried on,” remarked Mr. Crawford.
Walter Jepson, bookmaker, Conisboro’, was fined £15 for “keeping” and John Willie Prince, of 20, Chambers Avenue, Conisborough, £3 for “permitting.”
Mr. Linney said that between 11.25 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 22nd the house was used by 12 men, six women, six girls and five boys, and on the following day, between 12 and 2 p.m., by eight men, seven women, four boys and six girls. The only unusual feature about the case was that when the police drove up in a car Jepson, who was standing at the door evidently keeping a look-out, ran away, but was chased and caught by P.C. Gregory. In the house the police found four slips relating to six bets, covering 3s. 6d., £1 16s. 1d. in cash, and the usual betting paraphernalia. When charged, Jepson replied, “That’s all there is. You are a bit late. The stuff for the first race has gone across. I don’t use the house for betting.” Prince said, “I don’t let Jepson take the bets here if I know it. He takes them outside.”
In evidence Prince denied that the house was used for betting, and Jepson said the was a street bookmaker and did not use the house.
William Henry Green, bookmaker, Denaby, was fined £10 for keeping a betting house at 43, Loversall Street, Denaby.
Mr. Linney said that on May 22nd the house was visited between 12 and 4.30 p.m. by 79 men, 49 women, and 77 children, and on the following day by 74 men, 59 women and 97 children. The house was raided on the 25th, and ten slips for 17 bets, covering 10s., were found.
Defendant said he was too ill to work, and carried on the business to make ends meet.