South Yorkshire Times, January 12th 1934
Thurnscoe Bookie Hard Driven
Twice Raided in Six Months
A fine of £20 was imposed by the Doncaster County magistrates on Thursday on Willis Roper, bookmaker, Thurnscoe, for keeping a betting house and £3 on his son, Frank Leslie Roper, for assisting.
Mr. T. B. Jackman, prosecuting, said Roper kept a shop for betting purposes and police observation were kept on it on November 10th and 11th and December 6th, when 255 persons were seen to go there. The place was raided on December 9th. The son and three frequenters were found and 28 betting slips relating to 67 bets amounting to £1 19s 6d, and £1 13s 2d in cash. On seeing the police, the son remarked, “What here again?” while another person said “This is just my ……luck.” When charged later the elder Roper replied, “I am doing little business now.”
Mr. K. Roddis defending said Roper had been in business only six months during which the police had twice raided him. He had now given up bookmaking.
When binding over the three frequenters, the Chairman (Mr W. Hinchcliffe) advised them to save their money and not throw it away on betting.