Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, January 11th, 1917.

• Chaul End works in 1933

A serious accident resulting in the death of two operatives occurred on Monday morning at Chaul End works. The following are the casualties - killed: Horace Crump, aged 45, of 90 Ash Road, Luton, and Herbert Andrews, aged 17, of Cold Harbour, Harpenden; injured: H. Rowe, of Toddington.

The accident occurred about 11 am, and it was once seen by those who rushed to the spot that the mishap was of a serious character. But in two of the cases neither medical not surgical help was of any avail. Andrews, on the way to the Bute Hospital by motor ambulance succumbed to his injuries, and Crump also passed away in the evening, some hours after admittance.

An inquest was opened by the Coroner (Mr G. J. M. Whyley) yesterday afternoon at the Court House, and adjourned until Wednesday, January 24th.

• We are nor surprised at the disposition shown at the Luton Town Council meeting on Tuesday night to dismiss with something akin to contempt the Home Office suggestion that advantage should be taken of the vacancy caused by he death of Chief Constable Teale to hand the control of the Borough Police Force over to the County. Luton prides itself, and very rightly so, on its local government, but its pride in the efficiency and economy of county administration was shown by the strenuous efforts it made to get absolutely clear of the whole thing with a bid to obtain the status of a county borough. The fact that no district can show a better record than that of Luton makes it absolutely inexplicable why such a proposal concerning the Police Force should ever have been put before a borough with 60,000 population.

• Throughout Luton, the news will come in the nature of a shock that Mr D. A. Brown, the late Luton Postmaster, has passed away at his new home in Cambridge. Mr Brown resigned his appointment last spring. He had reached superannuation age but was prevented by heart trouble from continuing until the end of the war, and possibly seeing the inauguration of the new Post Office in Upper George Street.

• On the recommendation of the General Purposes and Fire Brigade Committee, Second Officer Alex Andrew (pictured right) was appointed Chief Officer of the Brigade in place of the late Chief Constable Teale, and his salary raised from 45 shillings to 52s 6d weekly, with house.

• The owner of property adjoining that purchased by the Corporation at Amen Corner, Church Street, proposed reconstructing his buildings and offered to sell the Corporation sufficient land for continuing the improvement. The Mayors and Councillors A.A. Oakley and Attwood, plus the Borough Surveyor, were entrusted with negotiations.

• The old saying that the calm follows the storm is applicable to the Christmas weddings. One who records the many marriages at one of our Luton churches told a Luton News representative that there was quite a rush over the Christmas holidays, and no doubt many soldiers took advantage of their short leave to enter into the bonds of matrimony. Now the calm has followed and the matrimonial market is very quiet.

• A new scale of charges for market stall holders was to be introduced on January 13th, 1917. The markets in the Park Square and Market Hill area had operated at a loss since a profit of £313 14s 1d was achieved in 1912. Outsiders would be asked to pay a higher rate than Luton traders. A report said the Corporation had power to transform the Corn Exchange into a covered-in market but there were many objections to such a plan.

• The mother of Driver Arthur Smith who found his last resting place in Egypt following his death from pneumonia has not received a photo showing that his comrades have erected a very nice permanent memorial over his grave.

• Dr Robert Bell, who was on home leave having served as an officer in Egypt, had decided, despite being over military age, to continue his work with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He had no information as to whether he would be sent back to Egypt as a captain, or whether he would be sent to France.

• Lutonians and commercial men who frequented the Midland Hotel will remember Pte Sidney Fensome, who for eight years was boots at the hotel. He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers soon after the outbreak of hostilities, and his mother, Mrs Coles, of 35 Dorset Street, has received official intimation that her son was killed in action on December 16th. He was 28 years of age, and single.