The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-01-31

whatever and the forty shillings was
retained as the penalty. In George
the Fourth's time there was button
act passed, forty shillings remaining
the favorite penalty. l have often
wondered why forty shillings was
always popular penalty imposed on
Englishmen for doing that which they
should not do. Doubtless you have
yourself pondered on the same inscrut-
able mystery. Why not thirty shillings,
or fifty shillings, or e5? Still SO it is,
and we must accept it."
why was such an unjust law
passed?''
do not, beg of you, term it unjust.
Respect the law. 1 should be sorry to
think that my custom went to a man
who was not as law-abiding and as
law-respecting as myself. Why was it
passed? 1t was passed to protect the
button makers of Birmingham.
"And do you mean to say ! cannot
collect my just debt because I have
sewed cloth buttons on some of your
suitsP"
you will collect your debt the mo-
ment get money to pay you, but you
cannot collect it in any English court.
That was tried quite recently at Mary
lebone county court, when Mr.. King
was sued by tailor named Shirley.
The amount claimed was nine pounds
sterling. Mr.. Shirley was a most es-
Unable man, no doubt, and probably
an excellent tailor, but people should
have the law on their side. The law
takes no account of motive. The tailor
was not only nonsuited, but was also
fined the requisite number of forty
shilling pieces, if there are any forty
shilling pieces. I confess am more
familiar with law than with the coin
age of this country. Mr.. King was
suited not only by the law, but the tailor
as we'll"
SIS this why you asked me to come
here2"
Eyes. You gave me of your clothing,
L give you of the law. Each the arti-
Gle he deals in. Now if you sign a re-
ceipt for the clothes, l will charge You
nothing for the law, nor Will say any
thing of the just penalties you have in
cured"
"Before doing so" remarked the
tailor, rising. 81 will consult another
lawyer
IA most excellent resolution in or
binary cases In multitude of queens
counsel there is wisdom, or at least
much law. But this case must be set
tied now. In your letter you expressed
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, !
tailor is no match for lawyer. 1t Is
always better to turn one of the legal
gentlemen on another. That is what
the tailor did. He consulted another
lawyer. This gentleman assured the
tailor that the acts complained of still
stand on the statute books He said,
however, that Blk in demanding and
obtaining the receipt had compounded Z
felony. For this he could be brought
to book. But the tailor did not want
to put Blk in Jail; he wanted hiss
money. Why not threaten Blk? Then
he could be settled with and the none
obtained. This, it seemed, would be
also compromising Biilk's felony, and
then another lawyer could jump on the
second lawyer. If the second lawyes
settled, then the third lawyer woul,l
have compounded felony and SO the
thing wonld go on until all the legal
talent of London would be envelope
in this network of compromising fel-
onies.
This is how the matter stands at the
moment of writing. How it will enc
no one knows. 1t is complicated
question. shall keep my eye on the
case and report progress from time t.
time Meanwhile those who read may
take my word for it that the law OF
England to-day in regard to buttons
remains as stated in the foregoing pa
thetic narrative.-Luke Sharp, in De-
troit Free Press.