The sequel to a military visit "behind the scenes" at the Palace Theatre, Luton, was heard at the Borough Court [September 6th, 1916]. William Northcliffe, a travelling music hall comedy artiste from Blackpool, was charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act. He pleaded ignorance on the subject and said he had no notice calling him up.

Capt Alston, of the Recruiting Office, said he visited the Palace Theatre on Tuesday night in company with a police inspector. He saw the manager, who he asked to show him behind the scenes to see if there were any men of military age performing.

There he saw the defendant, who produced his registration card. Capt Alston asked him his age, and he said he was 38 and, asked if he had an exemption certificate, Northcliffe denied that he had. Then he was handed over to the inspector.

Asked what was required of the magistrates, Capt Alston said that he be handed over to the military. "You have no proof that he was called up exception the proclamation?" asked Clerk (Mr William Austin) to which the reply was "No".

Questioned by the Clerk as to why he did not respond to the proclamation, Northcliffe said he did not think it was necessary, and he had no particular desire to be a soldier.

To being asked: "You know these proclamations called men up?, defendant replied, "Quite so, but I know men who have had conscript papers."

The Clerk suggested that Northcliffe should be handed over, adding that it was the only way of getting these men. He asked Capt Alston if he wished the man to be fined, and was told he would leave it entirely to the magistrates.

Northcliffe was told he would be handed over, but there would be no fine. However, he returned to the theatre two days later to complete his engagement, having been rejected as medically unfit owing to bad eyesight.

[The Luton News: Thursday, September 7th, 1916]