Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 29th, 1932
Wath Betting House
“Spot-Ball For Police”
“The season has started, both on and off the course, and this man is a spot-ball as far as the police are concerned,” said Mr. A. S. Furniss, solicitor, defending Arthur Pears (41) a bookmaker, of 37, Avenue Road, Wath, who was summoned for having kept a betting house at 39, Avenue Road, Wath, between April 8th and April 15th. Pears was fined £12.
P.c. Knapton stated that on April 7th he kept observation on 39, Avenue Road. Between 11-30 and 4.10 p.m. 99 persons visited the house, including 85 men, nine woman, three boys and three girls. The following day, between 10-15 and 4.-15 persons visiting the house including 136 men, nine women four boys and four girls. The house was raided. When charged Pears replied “Ready money and credit.”
P.s. Slaughter gave evidence in support. Mr. Furniss, defending, stated that the defendant was a properly licensed bookmaker and has been fined twice previously. “It is futile for me or anyone else to say that there is no credit betting business being carried on in South Yorkshire without some ready money betting being attached,” he said.
A redeeming feature of the case was that the defendant had discouraged the practice of children bringing slips to the premises. On several occasions he had sent children back when they brought slips.
Mr. Furniss referred to the small amount of ready money betting compared with credit betting. He pleaded for leniency on account of the fact that there was a big distinction between the man who carried on the business in a legitimate office and the man who carried on the work in the street. The latter was the sore on the back of the betting world.
Mr J. S. Colfon Fox (chairman of the Bench) imposing the fine said he felt that the profits must be considerable to enable the defendant to continue to run the risk he did.