History
St. Neots Postman’s Justice for Audacious Theft
By Peter Ibbett
In these pandemic days one constant reassurance that the world outside is still at least ticking over is the gentle thud of a delivery by a post person through my letterbox. These folk get little recognition for braving all weathers and lock-downs to ensure that I am not cut off from my magazines, bills and assorted junk mail. George Henry Ibbett was the St. Neots town postman from 1901-1939 rising to be Chairman of St. Neots Urban District Council in 1943-45 He also became a J.P in 1921. One case happened almost on the door-step of the present day museum:‘An audacious theft of money took place on 12th of June 1941 in a public house directly opposite the Police Station. The next day the thief, John Dean, casual labourer, of no fixed abode, was charged at the Sessions with stealing 3s. 6d. from the till of the “Falcon” public house, the property of Phyllis Cade. Mr Ibbett, the presiding magistrate, sentenced him to six weeks imprisonment. (Bedfordshire Times & Standard 20th June 1941)
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Back on 29th September 1933 ‘GH’ sentenced James Teese of Glasgow to 14 days imprisonment for a ‘mean and contemptible act’ at Buckden Post Office. He had gone into the shop and asked Mrs. Poulton, wife of the post-master, if she would give him a few postcards to sell on the road. Whilst she was sorting out a few cards to give him the prisoner took a one shilling packet from the stand and put them into his pocket. She caught him in the act. ‘GH’ dealt with several other infractions of the law at Buckden including a 1931 case when a man of no fixed abode was remanded to Bedford prison for stealing a pony from baker William Andrews. You can find out much more about life in the town at its museum (once life returns to some normality) or on its web site which now includes a St. Neots Stories section which aims to gather up as many stories as possible from local folk to turn into a collection to help future column writers for the ‘Villager’ to dip into and weave into an article!
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