On This Day, 22 January 1918

Coventry Evening Telegraph

Tuesday 22 January 1918

ALLEGED THEFTS OF DECEASED SOLDIERS’ EFFECTS

Private Wm. Yardley, Home Service Section, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was remanded for a week at Warwick on Monday charged with stealing from the Old Barracks thirty-two packets containing the effects of deceased soldiers of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, valued at £50.

It was stated that the prisoner was employed as orderly at the Old Barracks from June last. He had no authority to enter the store-room in which the property was kept, but when arrested a skeleton key was found in his possession which opened this store-room and also that of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He admitted having stolen the whole of the property, which, he said, had sold in public-houses in Birmingham and Warwick and also in railway trains. The property included a number of watches, safety razors, wallets, rings, purses, cigarette cases, photos, and letters. He admitted that he had destroyed the photos and letters.