Connecticut western news., 1883-02-14
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The Connecticut Legislature AslkeS to he-
 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 on Wednesday. Representative Rodgers of Fairfield, introduced 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 ln- ability to pay $17.O1, the amount of costs in case of summary process.
 MT. Rodgers made full statement of the circumstances and it produced marked sensation. Minott Banks, III 1858, borrowed of Moses Ogden $l22. He paid the interest for some time, but missed other payments, and 1t was com pounded at intervals until 1877. Then Ogden induced Banks and his sister Polly, joint owners in little farm, to give joint note for $500. During the year following, Ogden sued them both and secured judgment for $589.OS. he bought another judgment against Banks about this time, amounting to $l6l.2o. 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- ple. were frightened and signed an abso- lute deed of their homestead to Ogden, and also lease of the property, with right of redemption within three years on payment of $9s9.6s. 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 ther home. which they thought worth $2, 900. The sum of $9S9. 6s was made up thus:- Ogden's claim, $5S9 Os; the judgment he bought, $161. .25; Ogdens attorneys fees, $75; sherif's fees, $25; interest in ad- 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 the property .sand costs. They were elected from the premises, and because they could not pay the costs of $17.0l
 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
 nisbed released on "jail limits
 is. within the limits of the town of
 Bridgeport. By the assistance of char
 itable people they were able to live on
 pittance of $2.50 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 $2.50 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- scientiously 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 resc. 3 lution seemed probable. But the law. yers of the House argued for observance of the rule of reference to committee fol . investigation, and they carried the day, g The Judiciary Committee was instructed 3 to investigate the case and report al e once. A bill is now pending abolishine e imprisonment for debt. = Nesc Yorj j. Herald.