Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: November 6th, 1915.

Chief interest at the Luton Borough Sessions this morning centred in the lighting cases before the Bench. Six defendants were summoned for failing to obscure lights on a specified date this week, in contravention of the recent Order made under the Defence of the Realm Act. Five of them were tradesmen and one was the occupant of a private house.

The defendants were: William Clements, restaurant keeper, 6 Castle Street; John Whitell (the local manager for Messrs F. W. Woolworth and Co), George Street; Fred Francis, grocer and confectioner, 103 New Town Street; Charles Henry Dolbe, grocer, 72 Cardigan Street; Mrs R. G. Morris, private house, 341 High Town Road; Messrs Button Bros, outfitters, George Street.

Referring to the potential risk from Zeppelin raids, Town Clerk Mr William Smith, prosecuting, said: "One careless person might bring very considerable damage to Luton, and might also be the means of causing the loss of the lives of a good many women and children. This isn't warfare it's simply murder, and any person who neglects to comply with this order, and may be the means of bringing Zeppelins here is, in effect, committing what I shall call a very serious moral crime, if not a legal one."

The case against Mrs Morris was dismissed with a caution. Clements was fine 20 shillings, Whitell 40s, Francis 20s, Dolbe 30s, Button Bros 20s. The Chairman explained that the Bench had decided on the fines upon the amount of light that, from evidence, had been shown to the streets. Any defendants brought up again would not be dealt with so leniently.

• On Wednesday night there was a crowded audience in the Ceylon Hall of the Wellington Baptist Church when the Pastor (Rev C. Evelyn-Charlesworth) unveiled the bronze tablet presented by the officers of the 5th Leicester Regiment who, it will be remembered, were using the school buildings during the time they were stationed at Luton. The officers evidently appreciated the efforts made for their comfort and have very generously sent the gift as commemoration of their stay. It will also, perhaps, now be in the nature of a memorial, for it is singularly pathetic to note that the coming of the gift coincides with the going into action of the donors, several of whom have fallen.

• The relatives of Pte Reginald Stares, 14809, 12th West Yorkshire Regt, at 96 Cambridge Street, Luton, are in a state of anxiety after he was posted missing following an engagement in France on September 27th. He had enlisted in Kitchener's Army while working as a hairdresser in Dewsbury, Yorks.

• Pte S. Robinson, 4087, one of the 1/5th Bedfords who carried a wounded comrade three or four miles to get him out of the danger zone during the battalion's baptism of fire, is now in hospital in Malta suffering from rheumatic fever. He was hoping to be home for Christmas.

• Mrs Creasey, 323 Hitchin Road, Luton, has received an official notification that her only son, Pte Horace J. H. Creasey, 1/5th Beds, has been admitted to hospital at Malta suffering from dysentery. Pte Creasey is a nephew of Councillor Henry Impey.

• A ghastly tragedy took place at the Midland Station about 9 o'clock this morning when a man threw himself in front of an incoming express train, and was literally cut in two. Ticket inspector Potton had observed the man, aged about 40 and who said he was going to St Albans, on the platform. The horrific scene ensued, but fortunately there were very few people on the platform at the time. Police were trying to identify the body, but acting on clues in their possession it was understood he was a resident of Luton.

• Beds County Council yesterday decided to purchase a motor lorry from Commercial Cars Ltd, of Luton, for £850, to be delivered in six months from the date of the order. The necessity for this has arisen through the Midland and the London and North-Western Railway Companies informing the Council that after January 1st next their railway waggons will not be available for the carriage of tarmacadam or materials of a bituminous nature as the carriage of such material renders the waggons useless for general railway purposes.

• At a meeting of the Luton Chamber of Commerce last night, the Secretary read a report of the Bleachers' and Dyers' Section stating that when the present prices were fixed it was anticipated that trade would run upon the same lines as previously in the amount of straw dyeing, as distinguished from chip and tagal, was causing considerable disquietude. The majority of dyers were very short of this class of dye. It might therefore be necessary shortly to further increase the price.

• Dick Jarvis, the old Luton Town goalkeeper, who had seen much active service with the 2nd Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, now lies in the Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield, suffering from a bullet wound.

• A small crowd again as Luton Town entertained Portsmouth in a friendly match. The visitors took the lead after 10 minutes before Hartnell equalised, Dick Elvey gave the home side the lead from the penalty spot and Hartnell completed the scoring ten minutes before half-time. Portsmouth's left-half, Blackwell, had suffered bullet and shrapnel wounds at Neuve Chapelle but "they are not now affecting his play. which is of the robust type peculiar to the soldier half-back".

• The Telegraph raised the possibility of competitive football returning to Luton after Christmas, which would be good news for supporters with no heart for friendly games. The London Combination has sent out a letter asking clubs at present taking part if they wished to continue taking part on the same lines in the New Year - and at least two clubs had intimated they were strongly in favour of Luton and Reading being included. It was extremely probable Luton would be invited to join the Combination after Christmas.