Mexborough and Swinton Times November 15 1935
The Old Soldier
Denaby Man on Betting Charge
Thomas Sugden, miner, Denaby Main, appeared at Doncaster on Tuesday wearing a long roll of war medals, when summoned for loitering for Street betting.
When asked if guilty or not Eastern smartly to attention and said “Guilty.”
PC Stafford said he stopped Sugden in Doncaster Road, Mexborough, after keeping him under observation. The ad in his possession betting slips and £1 15s 3d.
Sugar said: “it is my unlucky day.”
The Chairman (Mr Mark L Nokes) said he could see Sugden was an old soldier. “You come here,” he said, “and we don’t know what to do with you. You know the law is against you.”
Sugden said he served in the South African war and in the last war in the first battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. “I would rather be working than doing this,” he said.
Asked by Col Ruck Keen (a magistrate) if he had never thought of applying for benefits through his war service, Sugden replied that he had not.
Col Ruck Keen intimated that he would be willing to help.
Sugden was fined £2.