Act III of Silver box

SUMMARY

Act III of the Silver Box, starts from the scene of a court. Two sisters, Maud Livens, and Theresa Livens were found crying on the street. The father was jobless, while the mother had broken the home and gone on the streets. The father was not in a position to look after his daughters. So, he asked the Magistrate, to get his daughters admitted to an orphanage. This was dually done.

After this case, the case of the silver box comes up for hearing. According to the story, Jack Barthwick, son of John Barthwick, MP, took a lady’s purse, under the effect of alcohol on Easter Monday night (at midnight). In this drunken condition, he was looking for the keyhole, on the wrong side of the door; when Mr. Jones (a laborer), who was passing by, helped him to unlock the door. Jack invited Jones in for a drink, and then told him, “take anything you like,” and then went to sleep, on the sofa. Jones, after finishing, his drink, took the silver box and went home.

The next morning, the butler informed John Bathwick about the theft of the silver box. Mrs. Jones, who was a charwoman in the house, was suspected of the theft. Her house was searched by the police and the silver box was found from, the coat packet of Mr. Jones So, the police arrested Mr. and Mrs. Jones and presented them before the court of the Magistrate.

During the proceedings of the case, the Magistrate is bribed by John Bathwick. He then, through his lawyer (Mr. Roper), tells the Magistrate, that considering the poverty (poor) of the prisoners, he does not press the charge (blame) as to the silver box. Perhaps he may deal with Mr. Jones for assaulting (beating) the police and creating violence. The Magistrate punishes Mr. Jones for the theft by sentencing him to one month’s hard labor but releases Mrs. Jones with honor.

Through this play, the author criticises the British Legal System, which was corrupt in the 19^th century. There was one law for the rich and another for the poor Mr. Jones, a poor man is punished, although he is completely innocent. While Jack is let off, although he is guilty of stealing a lady’s purse, simply because he is a rich man’s son.