Lock picking trial.- Calumny Exposed. Parnell & Puckridge versus John Goater, Foreman to Chubb & Son, ink and perforated library stamps, full-page advertisement for 'Defiance and National Locks' to inner rear wrapper, spine taped, housed in later limp card, 8vo, Parnell & Puckridge, 52 Strand, 1855.
⁂ An account of Parnell & Puckridge's appeal to the High Court following what they believed was the unfair picking of one of their 'Defiance Locks' by the foreman of their rivals Chubb & Son. While on exhibition at the Crystal Palace Parnell & Puckridge had offered two hundred guineas to anyone who could 'fairly' pick their lock. Goater managed to achieve this, but out of the opening hours of the exhibition and with no member of the plaintiff's firm present. Moreover, the cover plate of the lock was not fitted as normal. Accordingly, they refused to pay the reward and were now seeking damages from the court. The jury found in their favour and were awarded £30, plus £200 in damages and costs.
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