The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-04
sWINDLERs OF WOMEN.
The Need or N Society 20 Protect
the Unfortunate From
ExtOrliOn

Philadelphia News. In the old.fash-
toned brick residence lll2 Girard
street, is the Office OF the Society for
the Legal Protection OF Working
women. The society collects wages
due women which are withhold by
dishonest employers; stands between
ignorant women and the extortions OF
all kinds Of unprincipled knaves, and
sometimes bridges it's beneh"aTies
over harI times by the loan OF small
sums Of money. II has been at work
for seven year,, and is really CON-
mittee Of the New Century Club, wi h
Mrs. S. O. +. Hallowell as its secre-
tarv. Whatever aid the society gives
to distressed women il never accepts
pesuniary return, but pays all ex-
penaes incurred by the subscriptions
of benevolent ladies. 1t does its work
in the courts, with the aid of quite
galaxy Of the brightest young lawyers
OF the Philadelphia bar, affording
them, as a manager told Daily NelDs
reporter yesterday, kind Of "Cltnic"
at which they could gain experience
by practice:
"Some OF the worst extoTtions upon
poor women are pracliCed by the sew
ing machine companies" said one Of
the most efficient members Of the 30
ciety. "Some time ago a poor German
woman came here from Richmond In
great distress. She had paid several
installments on a machine, the only
support Of hersel and four iatherless
children, when, one day in her alb
sence, because she was behind with
one payment, the agents OF the com.
pany entered her room and carried
the machine of. She could speak lit
tie English, but we understood her.
After a good deal of trouble we secured
the machine for her, and loaned her
the money she needed TO pay the in
stallment. She now owns the machine
and has repaid ua.
"One of the most respectable, hard
working girls | ever cav came here
one day 10 tsll us she had been swim
died. She had been hired at So a week
TO work in a machine store. She
found out that chs could purchase {
machine for $l6 on inttallments OF 81
q week, and thought that it would pay
her better to do work on one at homI
than toll for 81 q day. So she had
m7Cbine sent to her home, and paiC
81 per week on il for two weeks TheI
her employer, who also sold her thu
machine, made improper advances Z
her, which she indignantly repealed
From that moment he was her enc
my. The next day he told her b
make a child's dress, work that sh
had not been hired to do, and did nc
know how to do. She told him &C
He commanded her TO go ahead. Sh
made the dress. 1t didn't suit him
and he discharged her without he
pay due, SO. Then he tried to tax
the machine from her, and she cam
to us. She kept the machine, and 20
her weeks wages.
Another girl, who came to u
come time ago, told us that her lathe
living in an interior town OF Pennsy
vania, had died, leaving her $3.50
which her relatives there had stolei
She was poor, working girl, a
alone and friendless in this city, W
! found out her story was true an
more than true. We got the $500 Il
her."
The society, during the Office houl
every Wednesday evening and Satu
! day morning, has numerous con
plants made by women aud girls
all kinds OF peCuniary trouble. Ever
case is taken, and almost every iu
/, claim is suCce stully prosecuted.