News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-03-01
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The Connecticut Legislature Asked to Re
lease an Aged Brother and Sister.

A case of great hardship, if not perse-
cution, under the law permitting impris-
onment for debt, was brought to the at
tentiOn of the Connecticut Legislature
recently. Mr.. Rodgers, Representative
of Fairfield, introduced a resolution re-
leasing from the Bridgeport Jail, Mi
mott Banks, aged seventy-four years, and
his sister, Polly W. Banks, aged seventy,
who are imprisoned because Of their in
ability to pay $17.O1, the amount of costs
ma case of summary process.
MIR. Rodgers made a full statement of
the circumstances and it produced a
marked sensation. MinOtt Banks, in
1853, borrowed of Moses Ogden 1922.
He paid the interest for some time, but
missed other payments, and it was com
pounded at intervals until 1877. Then
Ogden induced Banks and his sister
Polly, Joint owners in q little farm, to
give a Joint note for $500. During the
year following, Ogden sued them both
and secured Judgment for $5S9.O8. He
bought another Judgment against Banks
about this time, amounting to $161.25.
On the 18th of May, 1878, Ogden, with a
sheriff and an attorney, called at Banks s
farm and demanded payment; otherwise
they would take the farm. Banks and
his sister, aged and simple minded peo-
pie, were frightened and signed an abso-
lutte deed of their homestead to Ogden,
and also a lease of the property, with a
right of redemption within three years
on payment of $989.68. They represent
that they thought by signing these pa
pers, they were merely giving security
for their debt, and say that Ogden then
promised never to disturb them in their
home, which they thought worth 81, 600
The sum of S989 IS was made up thus
Ogden's claim, $3.50. OS; the judgment he
bought, $161.25; Ogden's attorneys fees,
$75; sheriffs fees, $25; interest in adj
vance for three years, $139.35.
In 1882 Ogden brought an action of
summary process against the old people
and secured judgment for possession of
elected from the premises, and because
they could not pay the costs of $l7.01
execution was levied on their bodies and
they were placed in jail in November
last. After being confined in jail for
four weeks they were, on bonds fur
nished, released on Jail limits Shat
is, within the limits of the town OF
Bridgeport. BY the assistance of char
liable people they were able to live on a
pittance of 81 per week, without
which they would have been obliged to
remain in jail. Recently the old man
was taken i'll and he and his sister are
to-day in Jail, being unable to live else
where on the s.. so allowance. Friends
of the aged couple object to paying any
thing which may benefit Ogden, and
Banks and his sister refuse to take the
poor debtors oath. Their reasons are,
in the first place, that they cannot con-
soientiously do so, as they believe they
have property by reason of their right OF
redemption, and, second, that if they
took that oath it would estop them from
claiming any equity in their home
stead.
The resolution of release was discussed
earnestly for an hour or more, and twice
or Oftener the members had their feelings
so worked upon by statements of the
case that immediate passage of the reso-
luton seemed probable. But the law
yers of the House argued for observance
of the rule of reference to committee for
investigation, and they carried the day.
The Judiciary Committee was instructed
to investigate the case and report at
once. A bill is now pending abolishing
imprisonment for debt - NeaO York
Herald.