St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-26
INNOCENT PURCHASER.
How the Installment Plan
Works Injury Upon Poor
People.
Excerpts From the Disconrses
of Leading Local Pulpit
Orators.
Public Funds and Support
Urged in Behalf Of Seeu-
lar Schools.
A pat Ripd tho Hep3Jd 0P Sad
"A Pet Bird the Herald Of Sad
Tidings TO. Its
Owner.

The mischief lurking behind the in
stalment plan was fully ventilated in
the Trades and Labor assembly at its
last meeting. Hons Robert Newell,
who represented one of the st. Paul
districts in the last legislature, and who
is at present in the employ Of the North
ern Pacific in Montana, was caught in
the trap, or rather his wife was the vic
tim of the brutality of one of these
sharks doing business under system
akin to that of the pawnbroker. Mrs.
Newell, during her husbands absence.
bought bill of furniture amounting to
$40 from dealer, and agreed to pay $40
per month on the same, signing paper
to that effect. Ali but $40 of the whole
amount had been paid when sickness
and death entered the household. The
expense attending such calamity was
such that Mr.. Newell was unable to
meet his Indebtedness. Under the i'm
preston that time would be granted
him to Straighten matters, he left for
Montana after the funeral.
One day recently Mrs. Newell, who
was visiting neighbor, upon emerg-
ing from the house, was astonished to
find dray backed up against her own
door and a bureau on the sidewalk.
Entering, she saw her house in a
state of confusion, the carpet ripped up
and the contents of the bureau drawers
scattered pr0miScuOuSly about the floor.
Besides the drayman, there were two
other persons who had obtained en-
trance to the dwelling, the clerk who
had sold her the goods, and a man
wearing a badge. She demanded an
explanation, and the salesman showed
her the bill and paper which she had
signed.
s.But surely you will not take more
than will satisfy your claim" pleaded
Mrs. Newell
I'VE will take everything that is in
this bill unless you pay the balance i'm
mediately," replied the clerk. by the
terms Of this contract, or chattel mort
gage. everything. is ours, no matter how
much has been paid on it,
EXpoStulatiOnS and entreatieS being
in vain, Mrs. Newell was about to give
up in despair, when, fortunately, the
milkman who serves the family came
along. To him she related the circum-
stances. The milllman drove hastily to
friend and borrowed $40 which was
rendered to the inStallment salesman in
liquidation of the debt. But another
elaine arose. The man who wore the
badge demanded So for his services. and
this sum must be raised or the furniture
would go on the wagon. The milSman
made another journey and came back
with the additional amount The dray
was drove Off, the furniture being left
on the sidewalk.
Another delegate related an instance
l.; En- Of dc
from the same dealer, and she inno-
Gently signed two papers without, Know
ing their contents. This fact coming to
the attention of her husband. he visited
the installment store with money
enough to square the account. He
asked for the evidence of the indebted
ness, and was handed note of hand
signed by his wife.
My wife signed two papers. Where
is the other one% asked the carpenter.
sob, that amounts to nothing .noW,''
replied the inStallment man, $50 long as
you have that note you are all right"
But, / do want it," replied the car
penter. The other paper was hunted
up and handed to him, and it proved to
be chatteI mortgage which would hold
good as a claim should the note-of-hand
be lost or destroyed.
1t was stated that however unjust the
methods pursued by dealers on the in
stallment plan, that they are doing
business under the protection CT law.
. 1t was resolved that the delegates
should carry the Newell outrage back to
their organizations and admonish them
of the dangers and risks of the install
ment plan, 1t is understood that the G..
A. Il. will also take up the matter in
behalf of Mr.. Newell.