Gambling was very much on the increase in the town, Chief Constable David Teale told Luton Borough Sessions on August 16th, 1916. The court heard two cases of boys playing cards for money.

In the first case Fred Streeton, Jack Tottingham, Harold Jakins,Albert Rowley and Fred Ray, all of different addresses in Duke Street, and Horace Fensome, of Brunswick Street, were charged with having played 'banker' in Hart Hill on August 13th. They all pleaded guilty.

Pc Head said that on Sunday afternoon he was on duty on Hart Hill and saw the group of boys playing cards. He concealed himself and kept observation for 20 minutes and saw money passed. There was also much bad language which little children on their way home from Sunday school heard.

Court chairman Mr Tomson told the boys: "You are getting into bad habits, gambling there on a Sunday afternoon and using bad language."

The Chief Constable said that with gambling on the increase he hoped the Bench would assist the police in trying to put it down as much as possible.

Streeton and Fensome, who had been fined for gaming in September 1915, were each fined 7s 6d, and the others 5s.

In the second case boys named Percy Tomlin and Fred Bowler, both of Hitchin but lodging in Vicarage Street, Luton, admitted a similar offence committed on East Ward Recreation Ground on August 12th. Pc Field said he concealed himself and saw cards dealt out and money passed. The boys said they had seen others play cards.

They worked at Messrs Green's brewery and each earned 14s a week. They ought to have been at work, but stopped out and went gambling. They also admitted that at first they gave wrong names and addresses to deceive the police.

The two boys were each fined 5 shillings and told to be careful in future not to gamble.

[The Luton News: Thursday, August 17th, 1916]