Regimental Postman Gaoled

British Postal Order, 1908 [Wikimedia]

Wednesday 12th May 1915: Lance-Corporal John James Halse of the 2/4th Leicesters, a soldier billeted in Luton has appeared at Luton Borough Court today charged with stealing a postal order of the value of two shillings. Lance-Corporal Halse has been employed as a regimental postman, whose duty was to collect letters from the General Post Office and distribute them. Complaints had been received that letters were going astray and Halse came under suspicion. When his belongings were searched an opened letter addressed to a man in the Lincolnshire Regiment was found. The letter contained a postal order marked Grimsby. Lance-Corporal Halse pleaded guilty and admitted stealing other postal orders. A Lieutenant appeared as a character witness, saying Halse was previously of good character.  The guilty man asked for leniency, explaining that he had previously fought in the Boer War and wanted to get to the Front. However, the Bench took the view that the breach of trust was of such a magnitude that prison was the only option. Halse was sentenced to one month in gaol with hard labour.

Source: Luton News, 13th May 1915