Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, July 5th, 1917.

A case of unusual interest was heard at the Luton Divisional Sessions on Monday afternoon. Emille Bouillon, a Belgian refugee formerly of Leagrave and now of Victoria Road, Mill Hill, was charged on the information supplied by Mrs Hilda Beatrice Hewlett, managing director of the Omnia Aeroplane Works, Leagrave, with committing an offence under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, by unlawfully retaining in his possession documents, notes, photographs, plans, sketches, books and designs of a nature calculated to be of use to the enemy when he had no right to retain them.

Mr H. W. Lathom, prosecuting, said it was the first case of its kind brought before the court, and, if found proved, could carry a fine of up to £100 or six months imprisonment - or both.

Bouillon was employed at the Omnia Works of Messrs Hewlett and Blondeau from March 20th, 1915, at a salary of £3 per week. He left in January 1917 as a skilled draughtsman with a salary of £450 per annum.

Towards the end of 1916 a man named Worms, taken on temporarily in the business department, and Bouillon were frequently noticed in conversation. Questioned by Mr Blondeau, both admitted that, having acquired sufficient knowledge, they thought of starting business and of leaving the firm. It did not work out and Worms left to set up business alone.

These two had all the plans, intricate, delicate, technical details of the firm's work for the Admiralty and others, and in his discretion Mr Blondeau thought fit to warn the Admiralty of what he suspected was going on. A detective was sent down to make investigations.

In response to Defence Counsel Mr H. Drysdale Woodcock , Mr Blondeau said he knew the defendant had since been employed at the Nieuport Co's works, but did not know that Flight Commander Dyett (Royal Naval Air Service) had Admiralty permission to employ him and that he had been sent to France with important documents.

Mr Woodcock described the case as a vindictive prosecution. "I venture to say it is nothing short of a scandal that a charge of this sort should ne kept hanging over this man's head for more than five months before he is brought to justice. In the meantime he is allowed to go into employment by another firm of a similar kind, doing an enormous amount of work of a secret and confidential character." He contended that Mr Bouillon had been in a position in which he had a right to retain the documents involved.

The court imposed a fine of £10, including costs, or six weeks' imprisonment. Mr Woodcock said the fine should enable the defendant to appeal, and the Bench allowed 14 days for the money to be paid.

• The great importance of the girl-life of the nation is fully realised by Miss Garnett, who has come down from the London YWCA Headquarters to take up the superintendency of of club in Upper George Street, in succession to Miss Kindersley, who has gone to Aldershot. Miss Garnett said she hoped to organise tennis and swimming clubs, an intercession service in the hut every evening, weekly entertainments and lectures, and proposed to approach various firms in the district for permission to speak in their canteens to obtain new members.

• Despite the diffidence of the Corporation in the matter, yesterday's Pram Parade to Wardown fully justified the celebrations and undoubtedly swept away the last shred of dubiety which may have existed as to the degree of pride which Luton mothers take in their offspring. One man in khaki was the only masculine pusher in a procession numbering 190 prams, and including seven or eight lots of twins. At Wardown the Royal Field Artillery Band contributed selections during the afternoon and evening, the Olympic Pierrot Troupe from Ampthill Command Depot gave an excellent concert, and tea and cakes were provided by Councillor and Mrs Stewart Hubbard.

• An unusual incident occurred early yesterday morning at the Market Hill, near Messrs Forman's shop. Pc Mason reported smoke coming from an electric fuse box, which then blew up and damaged part of the pavement. Mr W. H. Cooke, Manager of the Electricity Works, explained that it was an old type fuse box which had short-circuited. During recent dry weather the pavement opened a little, and the swilling of the flags by adjoining shopkeepers caused water to get down to the wires, causing a more violent short circuit than might have been expected.

• Yesterday was [American] Independence Day, and for Mr C. J. Worsley, of Melson Street, Luton, it held considerable interest. He is the possessor of a unique set of maps of America, also a steel engraving of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. He also as maps dated between 1783 and 1798 that are supposed to have been in the possession of the descendants of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, whose granddaughter was buried at St Mary's Parish Church, Luton.

• A picturesque wedding took place on Saturday morning at Holy Trinity Church, Millbrook, Hants, when Cpl Sydney Thomas Austin, of the London Regiment, and Miss Kate Folds, both of Luton, were married. Cpl Austin was invalided to this country, being assigned to Clifton War Hospital, Regents Park, Southampton, and his bride went to be near him. A large number of wounded soldiers were in attendance, and as the happy couple left the church they made an arch with their crutches and sticks.

• At Tuesday's meeting of the Town Council, a resolution was received from Luton Trades and Labour Council regretting the Council's action in refusing to let the Town Hall for a meeting of the local Anglo-Russian Co-operative Committee. "thereby refusing the burgesses liberty of action and freedom of speech". After it was said the Trades Council had not applied for the hiring of the Town Hall in a straightforward way, it was unanimously agreed to let the request lie.

• The announcement is made today of the sale, privately, by Messrs Daniel Smith, Oakley and Garrard, of the historic country seat of Wrest Park, including the mansion house, stabling and other buildings and grounds covering about 130 acres and a deer park comprising 421 acres. Alderman Wilkinson, of Luton, had been in active negotiation for the property, but his offer of £57,500 was declined. The purchaser was Mr Murray, of Thirsk, Yorkshire, who intended to take up residence.

• A very strange incident happened last Thursday in the Leagrave Council School garden. Two boys stood at each end of the garden and were knocked down by the force of a flash of lightning.

• Luton Town Council's Electricity and Highways (Joint) Committee has resolved unanimously to purchase 1,000 tons of medium quality house coal for re-sale to residents during next winter in quantities not exceeding 5 cwt.

• We are pleased to announce that high credit is reflected on the Luton Borough Police Force through the bravery of one of its members now in the Army. The courage, coolness and resource of Pc John Causebrook (pictured right), who is now a sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery, have been recognised by the conferring of the French Military Medal (Medaille Militaire). A Guildford, Surrey, man John Causebrook was for five or six months in the City of London Police before coming to Luton in April 1910 and joining up for military service in September 1915. When news arrived of her husband's award, Mrs Causebrook was living in Dorking, Surrey, and her husband was wounded and in hospital.

• Pte W. H. Brown, of the 9th Seaforth Highlanders, was awarded the Military Medal for "bravery and devotion to duty on the field of battle" as a stretcher bearer on June 6th, the award being made on June 25th. The eldest son of Mr W. H. Brown, of 9 Brook Street, Luton, he joined the 6th Bedfords in August 1914 and transferred to his present regiment in February 1915. He was previously employed by hat manufacturer A. Warren & Sons, Bute Street, Luton.

• ROLL OF HONOUR: Pte Frederick Goodman (Royal Sussex Regiment), 9 Surrey Street, Luton; Pte Joseph Summerfield (Beds Regiment), Upper Sundon; Pte Edward James Clarke (Royal West Surreys), 92 Wenlock Street, Luton; Sgt Albert William Mead (Machine Gun Corps), 33 Portland Road, Luton; Pte Horace Bleaney (Beds Regiment), 75 Ashton Road, Luton.

• Gunner P. C. Nicholls, aged 22, son of grocer Mr W. Nicholls and his wife, of Park Street, Luton, has been severely wounded by gunshot in the head and hand. Enlisting about four months ago in the R.F.A., he was stationed at Biscot and went to France at the end of April. He is now in hospital in York, also suffering from trench fever.

• Wounded: Gunner Nicholls (left) and Pte Norris

• Pte William Robert Norris, aged 28, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Norris, of 16 Front Street, Slip End, was so severely wounded in the right leg that it has been amputated just below the knee. He was working at the Vauxhall Motor Works when he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment in January last year. He sustained his wounds in France from gunshot as was going over the top in a charge on German trenches. He is now in hospital near Salisbury Plain, where he is making good progress.

• The age of chivalry did not apply to the Luton-Hitchin bus service in 1917, it seems, if a letter signed "One of the old strap-hangers" was anything to go by. She wrote: "I should like to protest, through the medium of you paper, against the class of gentlemen travellers you sometimes meet in the Luton and Hitchin bus. On certain days the bus is fairly full and, collecting from villages en route, the old ladies of 70 years of age are 'strap-hangers,' not a man in the bus being gentleman enough to offer them a seat. I think it's about time the so-called gentlemen travelled a little further afield and learnt better manners."