Miners Downfall Gambling

May 1936

Mexborough and Swinton Times May 8, 1936

Miners Downfall

Fred Alcock, miner, Conisborough Parks, accused at Doncaster on Monday of abandoning his wife and child in April 20, admitted that he took 4s of his child’s money for the purpose of betting, and declared that gambling had been his downfall.

Mrs. Alcock said that her husband had pawned everything she had in the house.

They had been married five years, and he had worked altogether about one and half years. He had just got good work and did not like it.

Alcock said that pit work did not suit him and that he had always been used to fresh air. The magistrates decided to adjourn the case for a month to see if there was any improvement in Alcock’s behaviour at home.