JUSTICES' JUSTICE AT HOME.

Evening Star, Issue 3300, 17 September 1873, Page 2

JUSTICES' JUSTICE AT HOME.

Here is a specimen of Justices’ justice, and what may occur in England, “ the home of the brave and free”;—“Britons never -will be slaves peacefully, and when they feel like it they arise in the Rouse of Commons andsay so. Witness the case of George Whitefoot, laborer, lately brought into Parliament by Mr P. A. Taylor. Poor Whitefoot, for the not unusual crime in the country of Sam Weller of being ‘tipsy and riotous,’ was taken before the Bench of Magistrates at Shefnal, and lined 30s. and costs. His mother a.dyapced to pay the money, while his brother, who stood n . ear holding the prisoner’s cap, preferred it to hh» as he descended from the dock. He smiled—not a smile of levity but one of gratitude, and took the cape;—seemingly a very natural and simple proceeding. It appeared quite otherwise in the eyes of one of the magistrates, and overcome by purple indignation this worthy recalled W hitefoot, informed, him that he should teach him some respect, and sentenced him to prison with hard labor for ; a month. His old mother entreated mercy on the plea that he was her main support, but of course this made no difference to this pompous magistrate, and the young man worked out his sentence. The discussion in the House was animated »nd diverse, but came to nothing. In the expressive language of the Parliamentary reporter, 4 the subject then dropped. ’ The moral of this tale seems to be that Britons before British magistrates should on ho account smile any sort of a smile at their brothers.”