South Yorkshire Times, November 24th, 1933
Police Court News
Goldthorpe Betting House
£91 In Fines
“People Will Bet “
After being fined £91 on four previous occasions, Arthur Beevors, bookmaker, 33, Kelley Street, Goldthorpe, was fined a further £l0 at Doncaster on Tuesday for keeping a betting house. His wife was fined £1 because, as owner of the house, she permitted it to be used for betting.
Mr. T. B. Jackman said police observations were kept on the house on October 19th when between 1-30 and 3-30, 59 persons were seen to enter. On the following day between the same hours 97 persons were seen to go there. A raid was executed by the police on October 28th when 84 slips relating to 147 bets and totalling over £4, and also £3 Is. 8d. in cash were found.
When Beevors was charged with the offence he replied, “Well; it is there. What can you do?” Mrs. Beevors then came on the ‘scene. She was very excited and said to the officers, “You use us as a spot ball. You never go anywhere else. It is only 18 months since you were here last.”
P.c. Ross gave similar evidence and added that Beevors used a boarded-up shop for the business. When the raid took place there were eight resorters present. Most of them were reading racing papers while one was making out a bet. As the police entered one remarked, “What! Here again so soon!”
Answering Mr. A. E. Maith (defending), witness agreed that the shop was entirely cut off from the house and that he had never known Mrs. Beevors to have anything to do with the business. “I agree that if there was not this place there, the people would find somewhere else to bet.”
Mr. Maith, to the magistrates, said the working man would have his little flutter no matter what difficulties the law placed in his way. Beevors was a chronic invalid, and he carried out the business without complaint from any client, to earn a living.
Supt. W. Huddlestone said Beevors was before the court for similar offences in 1920, when he was fined £50; in 1921, £20; in 1928, £1; and in 1932, £20. On the same occasions his wife was fined £l0, £20, bound over, and £1.
The defendants were fined as stated, while the resorters were bound over for a year in £5 and each ordered to pay 4s. costs