Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, January 4th, 1917.

The sequel to a fatal accident at a Luton dyeworks was the inquest on Monday on the body of William Marsh, a dyer aged 44, of 110 Langley Street.

Deputy Coroner Mr G. J. M. Whyley said the deceased was employed by Bracey Bros, of 28--30 John Street, and on Friday, December 15th, he was at work. A quantity of plait had been put in a copper full of boiling liquid. In order to fasten it down it was necessary to put a board across. While doing this one of the deceased's legs slipped into the boiling liquid, and he sustained severe scalds.

It seems he dressed the burns himself and he then walked home. There a doctor ordered his removal to hospital, where the man died at 8.20 pm on December 29th. Dr Bone, who attended him at the Bute Hospital, said he died from the result of septic absorption and exhaustion, otherwise blood poisoning.

The inquest was told that Mr Marsh had been employed at Bracey Bros for 10 years and had put plait in the copper hundreds of times before. Employer Mr Horace Bracey said the deceased told him he had one foot on the copper and the other on a plank. He then stepped on an under plank which tipped and he fell in.

After hearing that the working practice in use at the firm was the general one for the industry, the inquest jury returned a verdict that Mr Marsh died from blood poisoning as the result of his accident.

• In a letter referring to the tram accident on December 28th, Mr A. T. Cook said such an accident had been expected by most people. The trams were a nuisance to all the tradespeople of High Town Road, and, until a North Street route was used instead on Midland Road, the danger would always remain. Tramways manager Mr A. E. Wray said investigations into the accident could not be completed until the motorman gave a statement, but he said a the trolley pole being off the wires, as had been suggested, would not have interfered with the working of the tram's brakes. And he had no evidence that the pole had come off until the tram left the tracks.

• A verdict of accidental death was returned by a jury on Gunner Ernest Victor Jackson, 21, an artilleryman with the London R.F.A, who died on December 22nd from injuries sustained in the preparation of a smoke bomb to be used during a training exercise at Biscot Camp two days earlier. Dr Bone said the cause of death was septic pneumonia due to the injuries, which included a fracture of the base of the skull.

• We are pleased to announce that Pte Frederick Lewis Pedley (pictured right), son of Mrs Pedley, of 73 Conway Road, Luton, has been gazetted to a commission. He enlisted in the 24th County of London Regiment on September 5th, 1914, and joined the British Expeditionary Force in the following March. After being wounded twice, he has undergone a period of training in Scotland and passed examinations to receive his commission. He is now awaiting a notification of his regiment.

• Mrs A. Brown, of 2a Essex Street, Luton, has received official information that her son, Pte Edward Brown, 19, who enlisted in April last year in the Northants Regiment, was killed in action on December 10th. Prior to joining up he worked in the grocery department of the Bury Park branch of the Luton Co-operative Society, and had been at the Front only three months.

• L-Cpl George Wells, for six months a teacher at Hitchin Road School prior to joining up in October 1914, is, as far as we know, the first teacher from Luton to be awarded the Military Medal. He gained his distinction for the services he rendered as a despatch rider carrying important messages.

• The children who have passed through the Sick and Convalescent Home, London Road, during the years had a very happy time on Friday evening at the Castle Street Hall, when the annual Christmas tree entertainment took place. Abundant provision had been made for the 130 youngsters aged five and over. Lady Wernher sent a fine Christmas tree and also a large box of toys for presents.

• A large congregation assembled on Sunday morning at King Street Congregational Church to honour the memory of men from that church who have laid down their lives for the Motherland. There are 220 names on the roll of honour, but the service commemorated the 13 men who have fallen. The Rev E. B. Mahon (Pastor) conducted the service.

• Sgt John Goodson, aged 24, of 22 Hitchin Road, Luton, who enlisted in the Beds Regiment on November 27th, 1914, and who was trained at Ampthill, came home on leave on December 26th, and on Sunday morning was married to Miss Mabel Rhodes, of 'Kingsley,' Reginald Street, at High Town Primitive Methodist Church. Before joining up, Sgt Goodson was in the bakery department of the Co-operative Society. His bride is engaged in her father's straw hat manufacturing business.

• Major Harold Wernher, who is recovering from his recent horse-riding accident, was mentioned in Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's recent despatch on the Somme battles

• Also in the despatches appears the name of Temp Sec Lieut F. D. Odell. The young officer, now promoted to full lieutenant, is a resident of Toddington and was an assistant master at Norton Road School, Leagrave. His honour was read to the children at the school this morning and they gave three hearty cheers for their brave teacher.