The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-01

hppcrkhininE theroto why pay good
money 70 another lawyer, when will
be quite willing to undertake yourcasc
for las Won sayl little money down,
taking the rest out in trader
Mr.. llemms was stricken dumb by
the proposal
Being certain that 80 amicahlc an
arrangement would commend itself to
you. the moment il was presented in its
full advantage, have taken the
trouble 10 look M the law ON the sub
| ject and win without further parley
let you know Just where you stand.
You are doubtless aware that there
have been number Of acts passed in
| relation to tailoring which think will
tend 10 make our negotiations exceed
| ingly sinplc, For instance, there was
an act passed in the reign 81 William
and Mary which made II Illegal for a
tailor 10 sew cloth buttons on a suit.
| The penalty Is forty shiilings for every
| half dozen buttoiiS he uses, besides the
forfeiture Of the goods hut you were,
Of course. cognizant OF this before you
threatened the law on lawyer"
II never heard Of such an outrageous
| act II Is certainly not the law now
All, there you are wrong, and that
shows the advantage of having the
best legal assistance. II would Ill be-
come us, Mr.. lIcmms, TO characterize
the wisdom of our ancestors as out
rageous There are many things per-
tanning TO the, law that may not com
mend themselves to the lay minds'
''Do you mean TO say that net has
never been repealed2"
$50 far from being repealed IL has
been affirmed and added 20 In other
reigns In the fourth year of George |,
the law was made 10 include oil kinds
Of buttons covered by any material
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 fayorite penalty. have often
wondered why forty shillings was
always a 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 shilIings,
or fifty shillings, or R57 Still so II Is.
and we must accept It.
why was such an unjust law
passed2'
"Do not. beg q you. term 1t unjust.
| Respect the law. should DO sorry to
| think that my custom went to man
who was not us law abiding and as
law-rcspecting as myself Why was it
passcd2 II was passed 10 protcc. o
| button makers of birmingham"
And do you mem to say cannot
! collect my just debt because | have
sewcd cloth buttons on some Of your
i suits?,
lyon will collect yosr debt thu mo-
ment get money to pay you, but Won
cannot collect 1t in any EngrIan euurr
i That was tried quite recently at Mary
lebonc county court, when a Mr. King
was sued BIZ tailor named Shirley.
| The amount claimed was nine pounds
sterling Mr. Shirley was most cs-
i Unable man, no doubt, and probably
an excellent taller, bnt people should
| have the law on their side. Fhe law
4 takes no account Of motive Tho tailor
/ was not only nonsuitcd, but was also
fined the requisite number Of forty
4 shilling pieces, III there are amy forty
shilling pieces | confess ! nm more
| familiar with law than with tho coin
4 age Of this country Mr.. King was
| suited not only by the law. but the tailor
1 ns we'll
rs this why you aslted me TO come
4 here?H
4 Eyes You gsvc me Of your clothing,
i give yon Of the law Each the nrti-
Gle he deals in Now II ron sign q re-
i I
4 nothing for the law, nor will say any
thing OF the just penalties you have in
| Cured.
I ''Before doing so. remarked the
4 tailor, rising, II will consult another
/ lawyer"
"A most excellent resolution in or
4 binary cases In multitude Of queens
counsel there is wisdom. or 1t lcast
much law But this case must be set
i tied now In your letter yon expressed
i wish for an early settlement II ID
4 my own desire. must have my receipt
| now or will invoke the law against
you as breaker Of II. /"
The receipt was given OF course, n
tailor is no match for a lawyer It Is
always better to turn one of the legal
ii gentlemen ON uuObltT. nav 70 WHhs
the tailor did. He consulted another
4 lawyer This gentleman assured the
tailor that the acts complained Of still
4 stand on the statute hooks. lie said,
i however, that Blk in demanding and
obtaining the receipt had compounded a
felony. For this he could be brought
to book But the tailor did not want
TO pnt Blk in jail; he wanted his
Il money. Why not threaten BLK? Then
he could be settled with and the money
obtained This, it seemed, would be
also compromising Bilk's felony, and
4 then another lawyer could jump on the
second lawyer. II the second lawyer
settled, then the third lawyer would
nave compounded felony and SO the
thing would 60 on until ali the legal
talent of London would he enveloped
In this network az compromising Eel.
onies
This Is how the matter staRds At the
moment of writing How IL will end
no one knows. 1t Is complicated
4 question / shall keep my eye on the
case and report progress from time e
, time. Meanwhile those who read may
Il take my word for 1t that the law Of
England to-day In regard to buttons
N remains as stated in the foregoing pa
thetic narrative - Luke Sharp. in De
troit Free Press.
The check Of some people Is sim
Il