The Washington times., 1895-06-27

oi dsudilcu 10 Try ana VInCfcate themselves
before the city, and determined not TO go
on the stand.
The attorney for the Capital Guarantee
Loan Company tried TO discredit the suit
of the plaintiff by connecting her suit
with the agitation OF the subject by The
Times
The rest of the story speaks for itself
Twelve of the most reputable business men
in Washington agreed i'll less than three
minutes that the Capital Guarantee Loan
Company was ana is a Shylock concern.
SUED THE USURER.
The case was that of Mrs Jennie Mcsser.
who sued that company for SEQ. 20, the
amount OF uSurious interest cXacted from
her by Mt o. ] Barrett VINO has been
masquerading, aC-orIing TO the uncoutra
dicted testimony, as II Nor. - and Is ..e
Capital Guarantee Loan Company. II
came up at 80 Z. IN. and lasted G-ta :,
few minutes past Q p. IN. TIC court room
wascrowdei osuffocatiOnduring the Whole
trial. eyidencinG the intense interest mani
Tested IN the issues 10y the public
MesSrS. Ralstou u SidGons appeared for
the plaintiff ard MT. L. A. Eailey for the
defendant. Mrs. Jennie Messer, the victim
plaintiff was also present.
Mr. o. J. EaTrttt aud Mt Chicora, his
clerk, were in their seats, and the former
remained quite impaSSivc while Mr. Rails
ton scored the concern ana its methods as
fraud aud highway robbery.
The following composed the jury:
Harry Moran, foreman; J. +. Haines,
w 5. johnson, Z A. Humphrey, s.
Meredith, S. w. Philips, c N Hood,
Thomas Foster, f. c. DeLaudcr, W W.
Champagne. F. W. Cissen, b. c Moore.
CASE PLAINLY STATED.
Mr.. Ralston stated the case Mrs Messer
applied for a loan of $25 on her furni-
tuTe. She received $50 20, 81 90 Ion
one pTeteXt or another, either of expenses
or interest being deducted When her
note, which, by the way, the company did
not produce, became due, she was obliged
10 pay $50 for the renewal and 50 on
until she declined TO pay any more.
Besides the monthly payments of So %
she paid 50 on the principal. The suit
was to recover the amount OF $50 %,
part of the usurIOus interest paid within
a year from the time of the commencement
of the suit. The $50 25, Mr. Ralston aid.
was eNacted through various shifts and
suhterfuges make il look like interest"
MI. Bailey said at the outset that he de
sired TO remove from the mind OF the jury
any impressions they might have received
other than from the testimony"
A STAB AT THE TINES.
"Ane effort has been made by newspaper
published nthis city to poison the minds Of
its people against the defendant before
hand"
Mr.. Ralston objected to the statement
whereupon Mr.. Bailey said that was an
he had to say on that point. He then stated
that the case was removed TO this court
because the defendant Thought Justice
Taylor was prejudiced. The plaintls was
not willing TO tust Justice Church and
hence had called for a jury
The pleadings Were then read, during
Which Mr.. Ralston asked: Who is the
cumpany?"
Mr.. Bailey replied: You say it is Mr..
Barrett, and, while you are al IL you might
as Well prove it,"
Mr.. Ralston then proceeded to and did
prove it.
Mrs. Mcsser was then put on the stand.
and related all of the circumstances CON
n"cted with the loan, as already fully
stated in The Times
MT. Ralston then offered to show TO the
jury the extensions" and other docu-
ments in the possession OF Mrs. Messer
Mr.. Bailey For what purpose do you
offer thcm?"
Mr.. Ralston. "Ob, merely to show how
you do business" ="
MRS MEsSER CROSS EXAMINED
Mr.. Bailey conducted the cross-examina-
ton. Mrs Messer admitted that she had
signed two papers. but couldn't remember
signing third, which was the applica Son
for the loan.
Mr. Pailey: ITO whom did you first
go in reference to bringing this suit?"
A. Il went TO Mr.. Ralston ann sIddons."
q. Did you go TO the office Of The
Times?"
a YES, sir"
Q. You went there in response to their
publications."
A. Yes, sir"
Q. And they sent you to Messrs. Raj
ston & SidCOns?"
A Yes. sir"
Q Didn't The Times offer you its
serviCes?"
a. No, they didn't 1 was told to go
to the lawyers"
Mr.. siddons: 1--WE object to all this
The plaintiff went to her lawyer, ana this
suit was brought. 1t is imnaterial how
she went 10 see attorneys"
Mr.. Bailey. "Oh, ! thought I was burt
ing somebody. have got out what want.
l merely wanted to show that she has
been made the victim of somebody else -
Mrs. MesSer: II would like 10 say that
am an honest woman; and that if it is
right TO pay this money 1 will pay it. lit
IS not right / won't pay it,
PLAYED HIS TRUMP CARD.
Mr. Bailey then played his trump card, the
application Of Mrs. Messer for the loan in
which she gave her references. She said
that She did not remember reading the
application, in which il was made TO ap-
pear that the extra charges were for com
recording deeds, and all other
charges.i
In the application Mrs. Messer agreed
10 pay certain amounts on condition that
they should not Toe conside red interest or as
payment on the note. The rest If the cross
examination was on the various extensions
and what they were given for
Mr.. SiddOnS then made a short argu-
ment in which he said it was most pre-
claim that only 90 cents month
was paid to the man who put up the
money for Mr.. Barrett, and Mr. Barrett
received S2.25 a month. He then showed
hat while the company charged a fee
Tor recording. the deed was never recorded
a FLIMSY sCHEAIE.
1t is a fliSmy scheme" said Mr.. Sid |
Ions, Ito blind the eyes of the necessi-
ous. but it could not blind the eyes of the
Jury"
Then he produced the directories to |
lrove that there was no such entity as |
hat most mysterious II. Morse" They |
lnew there was no such person. and they |
were afraid Of CroSS-cXamination as 10
heir "nefarious business"
The fact is that Mr.. Barrett is Mt |
Morse and the whole company and he il
5 who is making l2O per cent per annum
'ut of people in the condition of.'Mrs.
Messer.
Mr.. Siodons held that the money was /
8arett's. and The extension was made
Dy him. Brokers who dealt i'm other peo-
Pies money didn't do business that way.
The rest of Mr.. siddons' alignment was
u defense Of Mrs. Aesser.
RATHER A WEAK STORY.
Mr.. Bailey argued that Mr. Siddons was
'mpiOycd by some newspaper 20 use on