Denary Bookmaker Sent To Prison.

September 1902

Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 26 September 1902

Denary Bookmaker Sent To Prison.

Thomas Gough, described as a miner, but said to be a bookmaker, was in custody on a warrant, charged with having neglected to comply with a maintenance order made against him on the 19th Dec. 1916, in respect of a child.

Polly Law, the prosecutrix said the prisoner was owing 32s since the warrant was taken out on Sept. 8th, and he had not paid anything since.

The prisoner said he was out of work. He was willing to pay when he started work.

The prosecutrix: He’s not a miner, he is a bookmaker; he has not worked for two years.

The prisoner: You cannot prove it.

The prosecutrix: you cannot prove that you work. She added that on a previous occasion, when the prisoner was before the court, he was described as a bookmaker.

The prisoner: Don’t class the family all as one; I am not a bookmaker.

Mr W.J. Huntriss: How long is it since you worked at the pit?

The prisoner: about 12 months.

The Chairman: You will be committed to Wakefield for 14 days, and if he brings you here again you will be committed again, probably for a longer period.