Lieut Wilson attended before Lieut-Col Carruthers and Mr C. H. Osborne at Luton Borough Sessions on Saturday [September 29th, 1917] to explain the action of the authorities at Biscot Camp in informing two London railwaymen, twice remanded on bail on charges of loitering in the lines at the camp, that they need not appear further as the charge was not being proceeded with.

The magistrates directed the Clerk to write to Col Alexander, pointing out that such a procedure would not pass unnoticed as the two men were under recognisances and no action by the military or anyone else could discharge men from liability to appear.

The reply of Lieut Wilson was that the letter to the two men was written by the Adjutant, in accordance with a section of the Defence of the Realm regulations which provides that, in the event of it being determined by the competent military authority that the case should not be proceeded with, the alleged offender, if in custody, shall forthwith be released, and his submission was that the military were not therefore in the position of a private prosecution in having to ask permission of the Bench to withdraw a prosecution.

Under the circumstances, however, he did not wish to argue the point and requested leave to withdraw the prosecution and expressed regret that the action of the military authorities should have given the impression that the Bench had been treated with a certain want of respect.

The magistrates acceded to the request and discharged the men's recognisances, but Col Carruthers said they did not agree at all with the assumption that the military could override the action of the court or take action out of its jurisdiction.

[The Luton Reporter: Wednesday, October 3rd, 1917]