South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 06 June 1930
Tram Escape Fails
Denaby Man Fined for Street Betting.
An Unanswered Question.
“I am guilty; I will be fair,” said William T, Hartley, a licensed bookmaker, of Denaby, when questioned by the police after he had been approached by a number of people who had handed him slips of paper, but at Doncaster on Tuesday he pleaded not guilty to a charge of street betting at Comaboro’.
P.c. Claxton said he was in company with Sgt. Waugh at Doncaster Road, New Conisborough, at 3-5 p.m. on May 21, when he saw defendant outside Northcliffe Working Men’s Club. He was kept under observation for some time, and a number of persons approached him and handed him what appeared to be slips of paper and money. He put the paper in his overcoat pocket and the money in his trousers pocket.
When witness and the sergeant approached him, defendant boarded a trackless tramcar. They boarded the same car, and alighted a little further down the road. When stopped and told that he was inspected of street betting, he replied, ‘ am guilty; I will be fair, don’t search me here.” He then handed witness 45 betting slips relating to 125 bets. He was taken to the police station at Conisboro’, where there was found in his possession a further 32 slips relating to 81 bets and £5 19s 11d., together with a paying-out sheet, three scribbling tablets, and sporting papers. When charged he said, ‘You have got me.”
Corroborative evidence was given by Ps. Waugh, who said defendant was a licensed bookmaker, and entitled to do credit betting.
Supt. Minty: You were there on account of a large number of complaints?—Yes.
Defendants Denials.
Defendant denied that he had taken bets in the street. He came out of the club, and immediately boarded the trackless tramcar to go home. No one spoke to him or approached him from the time he came out of the club to the time he was in the tram. When spoken to by the police he admitted that he had bets on him, because the sergeant said “Here, Hartley, I am going to take you for betting.” However, he did not ‘ admit taking the bets in the street.
In answer to Supt. Minty defendant said he was in possession of a large number of betting slips.
Supt. Minty: Had you been there (the club) to collect bets?
Mr. A. E. Maith (for defendant): You need not answer that question; it is incriminating someone else.
Further Questioned, defendant said he was aware that his licence permitted him to carry on a credit business only.
Supt. Minty: Do you really ask the Court to believe that all the betting slips you had were legal bets ? So far as I know, yes.
The fact is that you cannot get a living at credit betting, can you?—Yes, a bare living.
And you have to resort to street betting to get a living?—l have not.