STRANGE CASE OF MR. POPP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13673, 11 April 1908, Page 7

STRANGE CASE OF MR. POPP.

FINED FOR ADVERTISEMENT'S SAKE.

Mr Jacob Popp, a tobacconist of High Wycombe, a little town in Buckinghamshire, has been prosecuted 326 times lor selling tobacco and .cigarettes on Sunday. 'It is a diverting tale, this epic of' $. Popp. It has been going On for, sis years; and seems likely to go on indefinitely. The justices of High Wycombe have made themselves and the law lookj&premely ridiculous, andhava given Mr Jacob Popjp a\fine weekly { advertisemont^which is cheap j at the price •*$ the 7/6 fine which ,>he pays every Monday morning. Mr Ptipp established hiiiißelf in business in, High Wycombe six t^ears ago, and after a, timo began to open on Sundays, and did a good tr&de. "Presently the chief constable ,appoared and threatened him with a # summons unless the shop was closed on Sundays. Mr Popp declined to close, and the summons was issued on the Monday. It was taken out under the Statute of Charlos 11., thatparagon of all virtues, and charged the defendant that he, on a certain date, being the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, did at Chopping Wy* combe, in the borough aforesaid, vn r lawfully do and exercise Certain worldly labour business and -work in his ordinary calling of a tobacconist' and confectioner, the same not being, a work, of necessity or charity. Mr Popp paid 15/, including costs, and since then; regularly every Monday, he has re-* ceived his stimmons. There are two; alternatives to paying the fine — two, hours in the stocks or, seven days' imprisonment in gaol. Mr Popp has cvi* gently a- sense of, humour, as well as a* fine eye for advertisement, for he asked to be placed in the stocks. " Bui; the stocks have ■ long since vanished from the market-place -of Hi^b, Wycombe, and. the . Magistrate . declined to have now ones built' for- Mr' Pqpp'a incarceration. After, .two years and /a h&Jf the, fire was frtan '16/ %6 7/(1 , including' eds'ts. Mr Pbpp's/ sense of humour prompted him recency to send the^Magistf ate .a cheque fora quarter's fines in advance, 'to save both the clerk and himself trouble. The cheque was returned. He has now paid £156, and calculates that he has kept three policemen in clothes every year.