On this day in Yorkshire

March 3, 1931

Summoned under the Betting Act, 1853, at Doncaster yesterday, for using the Empress Rooms, Doncaster, for the purpose of gaming by running whist drives Percy Judd, clerk, Lime Tree Avenue, Doncaster, his wife, Lilly Thomas, E. Dales, Cleveland Street, Doncaster (charged with using the rooms), and Jane Wilson, the occupier (summoned for permitting) were discharged on payment of costs.

The prosecution stated that the police saw pennies collected from the players for a sweepstake and shillings for entrance fees, and out of this money the prizes were paid.

Mr W.L. Crawford (defending) suggested that a warning might have been given to the defendants. “It amounts to this,” he said, “and let the clergy and ministers notice it, that any whist drive held under the cloak of charity or for paying off debts, so long as admission is charged, is absolutely illegal, and renders the persons responsible liable for prosecution.”