WCP1504

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming

Oct^r 16^th 1884

Dear Mr Windust,

Your letter in the "Echo" was an excellent reply to the [4°/-tax] people; but I suppose you will get some rejoinders which I [should] like to see.

As to the "Poster" I think it is a good idea, and I also think Mr McDonnells suggestion very good for it, with slight modifications. It requires to be clear, sharp, and ringing, — and his paragraphs are all this. We want to attract attention by bold statements of our facts and results, and he does this well. I have suggested a concluding para. [which] I enclose [2] on his MSS. as it is somewhat premature to ask candidates everywhere to "devote all their [one word illegible]" to a subject so new and so little accepted as L.[and] N.[ationalisation]

I enclose papers from the "Press Information Agency" — suggest to next Comm. meeting whether it would not be well to [?] for 250 cutting. I have them all inserted in a book and indexed for each year.

There was a letter in the "D. News" dated Sept. 25 — from "A Countryman" referring to a case of Roadside Encroachment at Great Marlow, and he quoted remarks of me of the Magistrates, Mr [3] Cripps, a Q.C., who referred to a case in which the law was clearly laid down — The Queen v. The United Kingdom Tel. Comp. — Baron Martin read a paper stating the law to he, that the public were entitled to the use of the whole space between the fences of a highway of varying width, unless direct proof to contrary is given." This ruling was appealed against and confirmed by the Court [A] bench — and he ^{(Mr Cripps)} concluded "The question is now in fact settled beyond future agreements."

Thereon I wrote to Mr Cripps merely to ask if he was correctly reported, and if he [would] give me a reference to the Report of the [4] case. In reply he says he cannot give legal advice (who I did not ask him for) but says the case mentioned is fully reported in the Law Journal Reports but gave no dates.

Will you enquire at next Comm. Meeting if any member can consult the "Journal" referred to, find the "case", and give me an exact reference to it — date vol. and page. It is most important that we [should] have it, in order to convince magistrates and Highway Boards that in allowing these [ships] to be enclosed they are acting illegally.

Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]