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Simple English definitions for legal terms
T.
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A quick definition of T.:
In the past, there was a letter called "T" that was put on the thumb of someone who said they were a member of the church to avoid punishment. This was to stop them from doing it again. This was stopped in 1827. In Pennsylvania, if someone was caught stealing, they had to wear a letter "T" on their sleeve. This was required by a law made in 1698 and the letter had to be at least four inches tall and a different color from the rest of their clothes.
A more thorough explanation:
T.
In the past, T was a letter that was branded onto the base of a person's thumb if they claimed the benefit of clergy. This was done to prevent them from claiming it again. In Pennsylvania, T was also a letter sewn onto the left sleeve of a convicted thief. This letter had to be at least four inches high and of a different color from the rest of the garment. This practice was required by a 1698 statute.
If someone committed a crime in the past and claimed the benefit of clergy, they would have a T branded onto their thumb. This would prevent them from claiming it again if they committed another crime. In Pennsylvania, if someone was convicted of theft, they would have a T sewn onto their sleeve. This would let people know that they were a thief and had been punished for their crime.