Mexborough and Swinton Times May 27, 1927
Goldthorpe Bookkeeper Discovers his Error
That he thought it “perfectly proper” to take cash bets was the excuse forwarded on behalf of a Goldthorpe bookmaker at the Doncaster West Riding police Court on Tuesday, when William Morris, miner of Goldthorpe was summoned for having kept a betting house and permitting the premises at 141, high Street, Goldthorpe be used for the purposes of betting; Joseph William Morris, his son, a bookmaker, was summoned for having kept a betting house, use a house for the purpose of betting, and used the premises for such purposes with persons resorting thereto; and William Marsh, a miner of Goldthorpe, who summoned for having use the house for the purpose of betting with person resorting thereto.
Mr James Burrows, who appeared for the three defendants, pleaded “guilty” to all the offences with the exception of those alleged against William Morris, and Mr CP Brunton, or appeared for the police, asked to be allowed to withdraw the summonses against William Morris. Permission was granted.
Mr Bruton said the premises were under observation on April 11 14 and 20, and persons were seen handing in slips and money. On April 20 the premises were raided, and a good deal of betting material was found, together with a number of slips, which the police confiscated. When Charles Morris said he admitted he was a runner for Morris and that he got 30 shillings a week from him for collecting bets.
Mr Bell said there was no defence to the summonses. Marsh was a runner. With regard to Morris, a form I worked at the collar, but owing to ill health he could not carry on that work, and in March of this year, for the first time in his life, he started in the betting business and got a certificate. The premises were formerly a house and shop, and the father, the case against whom being withdrawn, was a tenant of both, but when he gave the shop over to his son for his business he boarded up the entrances from the shop to the house in accordance with the regulations.
Morris Junior did start with the credit business, but discovered that all other bookmakers around him were taking cash bets, having discussed it with any thought it was perfectly proper to take cash bets, and he had done that for the last week or so. He was now in a position alone pay £20, and owing to being in such a small way a business he found it impossible to carry on the business as a credit business. Turning over to the credit system was out of the question altogether, solitary losses £20 and is business as well. He (Mr Burrows) for these factors play for a lenient view being taken of the offence.
Police evidence was at 13 person visited the premises on one day, four on another and 16 on another.
Morris was fined £10 and Marsh £2.