What'll win?" [Bill Cowell 1996] : How Women are Betting

Abstract

HOW WOMEN ARE BETTING

Two police officers recently made observations as to betting business during certain short periods on a plot off Winter Street and Shepherd Street, Barnsley, and before the Borough Bench yesterday one of them made the following statement as to the number of persons he saw make bets :-
.....................................Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Total.
March 31 ..................... 57 … 70 … 4 … 2 … 133
April 3 ..................... 27 … 37 … 5 … 5 … 74
April 4 ..................... 47 … 68 … 3 … 1 … 119
April 5 ..................... 65 …92 … 5 … - … 162
April 6 ..................... 27 …41 … 1 … - … 69
April 7 ..................... 68 …67 … 2 … - … 137
April 9 ..................... 34 … 36 … - … - …70
April 10 ..................... 60 … 88 … - … 1 … 149
April 11 ..................... 6 …7 … - … - … 13

These details came out when John Gilder, described as a bookmaker, of Shepherd Street, was charged with using the place as a resort for betting purposes. Christopher McCann, James Wilson, Thomas Charlesworth, and John Currie were charged with aiding and abetting.

Mr. Rideal, who appeared for the defendants, admitted that the policemen (who had been secreted in an outhouse and watched through holes in the walls) had kept their register remarkably well but he said the business was carried out in a quiet place and without nuisance. He contended that betting could not be stopped, and that those important personages who betted in Tattersall's RIng at Epsom, Doncaster, and so on, should be prosecuted and not the smaller offenders.

The Chief Constable urged the bench to inflict a penalty for each day, but it was decided to fine GIlder £5 and costs for the first day, and order him to pay costs for the other eight days. The other defendants had 10s. and costs to pay for one day.