Mexborough and Swinton Times, may 23rd
Pitch and Toss Playing at Denaby.
The use of a wife.
Six young men, all of whom appeared, and who were named respectively; James Jackson, Thomas Potts, Joshua Ridgley, Edward Freeman, Charles Taylor and William Farmer, residing at Denaby, were summoned for having played at pitch and toss at Denaby, on Saturday the 10th inst.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
PC Midgley said that on the day named he was on duty at Denaby, about 4:30 in the afternoon, there was a crowd of men – about 60 or 70 – playing at bounce ball for money, and a number of others playing pitch and toss, amongst the latter of whom were the defendants. They were at it all the afternoon, more or less, they having been dispersed a time or two when he put in an appearance.
At last he succeeded in getting near the defendants, and saw them play. The men, when he went near, ran away to a sale, which was taking place about 100 yards away – when he spoke to them on the subject, and they made it appear as if they knew nothing of the matter. He had known all the parties for three years and could not be mistaken as to their identity.
Farmer: I have not gambled now for 12 months. I own to standing by the others andnothing else. I have gambledother times, but of course I have a wife to keepnow – and I have her to keep.
All the others denied the offence llikewise, but their explanation were not so interesting as that of Farmer.
Fined one shilling each and costs