Evening star., 1939-10-30

Jones. A deputy takes the summons
to Mr.. Jones house and if neither
the tenant or his children are there
tacks it up on the front door, a
little greeting when Mr.. Jones ar
rlves from work.
Mr.. Jones now ponders his pre-
dicament. The notice says that a
hearing on the matter will be held
in the landlord and tenant branch
of the court on certain day. To
60 to the hearing or not to 60
that is the question. About 10 per
cent of the Mr.. Joneses" don't 60.
But this Mr.. Jones decides to face
the music. Maybe he can stall
some more there.
Clerk Reads OF Names.
At $50 am. he arrives at the
court. The clerk begins reading otf
the names of landlords and tenants
involved in the suits. There are 200
suits that day. The clerk reads fast
to finish up by l0:30, so the judge
can begin serving in the small
claims and conciliation branch.
The World Wide Realty Co. vs..
Tom Smith," the clerk reads out
in a loud voice.
Judgment" say the firms law
yer. requesting the court to decide
in his favor. Tom Smith is among
those who decided not to show UP
The clerk marks j" on the COM
plant. judgment being awarded by
default
In few minutes the clerk comes
to Mr.. Jones case The Good Land
Realty Co. VS.. Sam JONES'" calls
the clerk.
Judgment" says the Good Lands
lawyer.
Here" calls Mr.. Jones. He must
answer quickly or the clerk will
pass hurriedly on to another case.
Speed is the watchword of justice
in landlord and tenant.
Asks Two Weeks Time.
Mr.. Jones walks up to the bench
and the judge asks: DO you owe the
rent?"
Yes. but my wife got sick and I
got behind
How much time do you want to
pay?" the judge asks.
Two weeks
The judge turns to the lawyer and
asks if that is agreeable. The lawyer
says, Make it week"
The judge, powerless to force the
landlord to grant the additional
week, informs Mr.. Jones of the date
he must pay the rent. A bit baffled
by the speed, Mr.. Jones takes his
leave
And for this bit of justice, Mr..
Jones owes $1.35-85 cents for the
courts filing fee and so cents for the
marshal's fee. A judgment for re-
possession of the house on the basis
OF non-payment of rent has been
granted against Mr.. Jones. The
landlord will give up his right to &C
ton only if Mr.. Jones pays the rent
plus the court and marshal fees.
Can't Raise the Rent.
A week passes. Now, if Mr.. Jones
had happened to scrape together the
money some way, he would have to
pay the rent plus $1.35 at this stage.
But, to carry the illustration to
completion, Mr.. Jones still hasn't
the money.
The landlord decides to use the
judgment he has won. So he un-
dertakes to make Mr.. Jones pay up
or get out. He goes to the court and
pays so cents for a writ of possession,
paper which empowers the mar
shall to put Mr.. Jones out if he
doesn't pay the rent and costs on de-
mand. To the marshal's office, the
landlord pays 81 for handling the
writ.
First, the marshal sends through
the mail to Mr.. Jones what is known
as a courtesy notice" 10 days before
he plans to serve the writ. If Mr..
Jones hasn't paid up by the end OF
that time, out goes deputy marshal
armed with the writ. Mr.. Jones
and his wife and children are on
the verge of being put in the street.
However, the day is saved when
Mr.. Jones finds a friend to borrow
some money from. The marshal
arrives and Mr.. Jones asks how
much he owes. The marshal says
the rent plus the costs.
The costs are no longer $1.35.
They have jumped now to $285-
the $1.35 plus the courts fees of
so cents for the writ and the mar
shals fee of 81 for handling the
writ. Mr.. Jones pays up.
There are almost 1000 Mr.. Joneses
every month being soaked" In this