Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 28 May 1904
Street Betting at New Conisboro’
Three “Bookies” Smartly Captured
The “Early Bird” Catches the Worm
A “Bobbies’” Bet
Superintendent and the Manager
An interesting betting case came up in the First Court of the Doncaster West Riding Court on Saturday, before H. C. Yarr (presiding), Mr. W. J. Huntiris, Mr. Godfrey Walker, and other magistrates. The defendants, or rather two of them, were well-known betting men, John Gough and William Gough, bookmakers, of New Conisboro’, and were charged with betting in a public place at Conisboro’, the former on the 7th, 10th and 11th May, and the latter on the 7th, 6th, 10th, and 11th May. Daniel Dalton, described as a bookmaker of New Conisboro’, was summoned for a similar offence on the 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th May.
Mr. F. Allen appeared for the defendants, and pleaded guilty to all the charges.
Police-constable Holmes, stationed at Braithwell, said on the 7th May he was on duty in front of the Denaby Main Hotel disguised as a miner, when he saw John Gough with about 30 persons round him, making entries in a book. On the first day he received about 100 bets. About 3-30 p.m. the police-sergeant came along in uniform, and as soon as Gough saw him he put the book in his pocket and walked away. All the three defendants were stood within 50 yards of each other, and witness was very near to them. He heard a lot of their conversation, which was about betting and horse-racing. He heard a lot of the names of horses running in that day’s races.
At 1-20 p.m. on Tuesday, the 10th, from instructions he received, he again went to New Conisboro’, again disguised as a miner, and Gough was standing on the footpath of the Denaby Main Hotel, and several persons were stood talking to him reading sporting papers. He was receiving slips of paper and money, and made entries in a book. He received slips of paper from about 40 persons, and some from children not more than ten years of age. Witness was stood near Gough, and a man gave him a shilling which he told him to put on “Jupiter Pluvius.” He took the money and made an entry in his book.
At 1-40 p.m. P.S. Horton came down the street, and Gough went away. When the sergeant had gone he went on booking again. At 2-35 the sergeant returned, and Gough put his book in his pocket again and walked away. On Wednesday, the 11th, he received money and sometimes slips of paper the same kind of thing going on as on the previous day. Witness went up to him and put 6d. on “Early Bird.” Laughter. Gough took the money and made an entry in his book.
Whilst he was stood talking to him a woman came up and gave him 3s., and took a slip of paper which he put in his pocket. Another man gave him a shilling and said “St. George” or “Santa Claus.”
At 2 p.m. Inspector Watson and P.S. Horton came past, and Gough at that time was receiving some money and a slip of paper. When they saw the Sergeant and the Inspector he walked into the hotel. When the police had got some distance away Gough commenced contracting bets again.
At 2-40 p.m. the Inspector and the Sergeant returned to the Market Hall passage. Gough was reading a book in his hand. The police ran towards him, and witness then went away.
With regard to the case against Wm. Gough, the evidence was practically similar. On Saturday, the 7th, witness saw he was surrounded by a number of people in front of the Denaby Main Hotel. He took a large number of bets, not far off a hundred. One man backed “Be Very Wise.” Laughter. Defendants were all acting independently, although close together. On Monday, the 9th, the same kind of thing went on. From 1-45 to 3-30 Gough was receiving bets. He heard one man make bets on “Sweet Mare” and “Communist.” When the police came in sight they put their books away and walked away. On Tuesday the same kind of thing went on, and on the other days too.
With regard to the case against Dalton, he watched him from 1-30 until 3-30, and he made a number of bets. He heard one man put 2s. on “Cerise” and 9d. on “Templemore.” Witness was looking into his book, and on the other dates the same kind of thing took place.
Mr. Allen: What about the 6d. you had on “Sweet Mare,” did it win?
Witness: It didn’t run, and I drew my money back the following day. Laughter. I had only one bet with each man.
What about the bet with John Gough, on “Early Bird.” Did that win?
No, sir, it lost. Laughter. And the other bet on “Jupiter Pluvius,” did that run third?
No, sir, that lost, too. More laughter.
Mr. Allen pleaded guilty, and asked for lenient punishment. The costs would no doubt be heavy.
The Chairman said no doubt the County Council bye-laws were broken on each day. Of course, the bye-law was not against betting, which was a legal thing if done in a proper place and in a proper manner. What the bye-laws were directed against was the nuisance to the public of carrying on the trade of a bookmaker in a public place. It must be understood that that would have to be stopped. They were not going to allow it in that division, and if they looked in the newspapers they would soon see that it was not going to be allowed anywhere in the West Riding. There were several convictions against John Gough and William Gough, and in each case they would have to pay 40s. including the costs. There was no previous conviction against Dalton, and he would be fined 20s., including the costs in each case.
Mr. Gichard, on behalf of the owners of the Denaby Main Hotel, said they had no desire that that kind of nuisance should be allowed to take place near to or on their premises, and so far as being desirous of it, they would do all they could to assist the police in putting a stop to it.
The Chairman: It appears to have all taken place in front of the hotel.
Mr. Gichard: The manager has several times requested them to go away.
Supt. Blake: He also asked them, and that is telling him straight. They can go into the house and make bets in front of the waiters. The policeman has seen them do it. He could easily prevent it if he liked.