Thirty seven Mosbro’ miners were summoned before the Eckington Magistrates on Monday in answer to summonses for gaming at heads and tails at Mosbro’ on September 28th 1919. The police withdrew one summons against Arthur Wainwright, and two defendants George Green and George Cupit did not appear. The parade, therefore, numbered 34. All the defendants, with the exception of Thomas Scott, pleaded guilty.
P.c. Ford said at 4.20 p.m. on September 28th he was on duty on a footpath leading to the Ford, Ridgeway, in company with Pc Bramley, Pc. Barker, Pc. McGovern, other officers, when he saw the whole of the defendants with other men in a ring playing at heads and tails. They had the men under observation for 20 minutes or half an hour and while watching them they saw Scott leave, and heard him remark”, I am going now”. While they had them under observation witness took down the names of the defendants.
The officers made a rush and they (the defendants) dispersed. The footpath was one that was frequented women and children, and the language used on this occasion was awful. They had many complaints of bad language used by the men. Scott had won £1 and then left,” Witness said.
P.c. Bramley gave evidence as to seeing Scott gaming when he was at Ladybank. Scott denied the offence and called Walter Savage. P.c McGovern also said Scott was in the ring.
The defendants and fines were as follows; -Wilfred Norman. 40s; George Cupit 30s; Edgar Staton, William Short and Samuel Boardman. 21s. each; Rolling Guest; Richard Gregory, Harry Lee; Alfred Clarke; Ernest Buxton; Brewin Newton, William Buxton; Harold Christian, and Ellis Guest, 15s each, and John Froggatt. Arthur Lunn; John Thomas Booth; George Wilcox; Fred Guest; Bernard Green, Thomas Scott; Samuel Waller; James Waller, Harry Jones; Ernest Cole; Frank Havenhand; Harry Farrow; Arthur Wheeldon; Samuel Turner; Thomas Plant. Fred Barker, Walter l. Buxton, and Joseph 20s. George Green 20s., and Robert Guest, William Barnett.
Belper News – Friday 24 October 1919
