The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-03-17
VOL. XXXVIII---NO. IA.

80 far from being repealed, it has
been affirmed and added to in other
reigns. In the fourth year of George
L. the law was made to include all
kinds of buttons covered by any ma
terial whatever, and the forty shillings
was retained as the penalty. In
George the Fourth's time there was a
button act passed, forty shillings re-
manning the favorite penalty.
81 have often wondered why forty
shillings was always popular penalty
imposed upon Englishmen for doing
that which they should not do.
Doubtless you have yourself pondered
on the same inscrutable mystery
Why not thirty shilIings, CIR fifty shil-
lings, or e5? Still so it is, and we
must accept it."
ed p
do not, beg of you, term it I'M
just. Respect the law l should be
sorry to think that my custom went
to a man who was not as law-abiding
and as law-respectinga as myself. Why
was it passed? 1t was passed to pro-
tect the button-makers OF Birming-
ham,
And do you mean to say cannot
collect my just debt because l have
sewed cloth buttons on some OF your
suits ?''
you will collect your debt the mo-
ment | get the money to pay you, but
you cannot collect it in any English
court. That was tried quite recently
at Marylebone county court, when a
Mr.. King was sued by a tailor named
Shirley. The amount claimed was So
ctn IL MI frl4
Unable man, no doubt, but people
should have the law on their side.
The law takes no account of motive.
The tailor was not only non-suited,
but was also fined the requisite num-
Der of forty shilling pieces. l confess
| am more familiar with law than
with the coinage of this country. Mr.
King was suited not only by the law,
but the tailor as we'll"
us this why you ask NE to come
here %
Eyes. You gave me of your cloth
ing. l give you of the law. Each the
article he deals in. Now if you sign a
receipt for the clothing l will charge
you nothing for the law, nor will say
anything of the just penalties you
have incurred"
Before doing So" remarked the
tailor rising, 81 will consult a lawyer"
"a most excellent resolution in or
binary cases. multitude of Queens
counsel there is wisdom, or at least
much law. But this case must be set
tied now. In your letter you express
ed a wish for an early settlement 1t
is my own desire. | must have my
receipt now or will invoke the law
against you as a breaker of it,"
The receipt was given. OF course a
tailor is no match for lawyer. 1t is
always better to turn one of the legal
gentlemen on another. This is what
the tailor did. He consulted another
lawyer. This gentleman assured the
tailor that the acts complained still
stand on the statute books. He said,
however, that Blk in demanding and
obtaining the receipts had compound
ed a felony. For this he could be
brought to book. But the tailor did
not want to put Blk in Jail he wanted
his money.
Why not threaten Blk? Then he
could he settled with and the money
obtained. This, it seemed, would be
also compromising Bilk's felony, and
then another lawyer could Jump on
the second lawyer. If the second law
yer settled, then the third lawyer
would have compounded a felony,
and SO the thing would go ON until ali
the legal talent of London would be
envefoped in this network of com
pounding felonies.
This is how the matter stands at the
moment of writing. How it will end
no one knows. 1t is complicated
question. | shall keep my eye on the
case and report progress from time to
time. Meanwhile those who read
may take my word for it that the law
of England to-day in regard to but
tons remains as stated in the foregoing
pathetic narrative.-Luke Sharp, in
Detroit Free Press.