Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-06-27
ENGLISH MONEY LENDERS.
Widespread Fraud Alleged by n Man Who
Has Been Investigating Them.

The American pawnbrnker and tho Eng.
fish money lender nrc engaged in n general
way in the same line of business, but their
methods arr different and they appeal "a
different classes of borrowers. Some of the
facts brought out by the resent invcStiga.
ton of the English money lenders and the
tricks that they employ 10 extort usurious
rates of interest have surprised even the
Euglishmcn themselves accustomed ms
they are to look upon the money lender ns
a national institution whose usefulness l.
unqucstiorcd.
Thomas Farrow. secretary Of the Agri-
cultural Banks association, Is the man who
started the last campaign against the mon
ey lenders, and IL Is chiefly due to his own
Investigations shat the revelations have
been made. Through his work one Of the
most notorious usurcrs has just been sent
to prison and dozen others have fed the
country or given up business. Mr.. Farrow
has circulated broadcast plain statements
OF facts about the great money lending con
Germs, giving their names and details of
their victims. One penny book of his, ''In
the Money Lenders Clutches, - hns sold to
the extent of 100, 900 copies, though It left
the press only FIVE months ago.
1t was through the formation of the Ag-
ricultural Banks association that Mr. Far.
rows attention was drawn 10 the money
lenders. From information which wns
placed before his first committee meeting
he was impressed by the fact that in every
other country the land had been oyerrun
with extortioners before such banks were
started He wondered whether the same
thing was true In England, and hc soon
learned enough 10 make him want Ia carry
his investigations further Mr. Farrow In
serted advertisements In more than 600
papers and distributed 90, 900 leaflets ask
ing for Information. He also visited hun
dreds OF borrowers whose names and nd
dresses were secured from the bills of sale
registry and other sources AS n result Of
his inquiries he said last week 10 an Eng
lish writer that the number Of people in
the money lenders clutches was immense,
especially among farmers. clergymcn and
working people.
"Country clcrgymcn, he said, "consc-
qucnt upon agricultural depression, arc
driven - try to get temporary aid, and
once they ar, In the tolls there is too often
little cscapc for them. Personally l know
of many rlcreymcn thus bound. The
usurcrs like T. have dealings with farmers,
for the farinrr is usually an honest man,
he cannot sir, away like townsman The
bills of sale registered in England alone
average 9iou a year, and their number
gives only faint idea Of the extent Of the
evil myself in the carly stage of my
inquiries put n test advertisement In four
London papers for one day only. offcrina
money at 10 per cent. and obtained PSI re-
pl<s"
what nre Your chief complaints nguins;
the money lcndcrs?'
Their advertisements Offering muncy
are crammcd with falschoudS Many of
them never lend money nj all. but simply
rob inquircrs Of preliminary fees. Their
ordinary rate Of interest when money l.
advanced is per cent IA month, not , per
cent year, and generally they deceive the
borrowers In every imaginable way They
bring about the ruin Of hundreds and
thousands Of people every year, and yet the
law affords them every assistance and gives
borrowers no protection.
Mr.. Fnrrow explained the way In which
the business Is done When victim re-
pile; to the announcements Of the money
Lenders, they rcturn an answer that bcforc
doing business they must have "a small
amcunt-lO shillings, Fl or e2-to cover
expenses of investigating the applicants
case. The victim sends the money, and n
week or two aficrward receives letter to
the effect that they cannot do business
with him. In many eases no inquiries are
made Unless the applicant Is prnfcs
sional man in good position, such as u
clergyman holding living, the lender
usually rcquip.sa hill Of sale on furniture
or sock. These bills Of sale work many
hartlships. Mr.. Farrpw has gathered hun
dretis OF instances going TO prove that they
simply furnish the money lender with the
means for cxtorting large sums Of money
Borrowers are tricked into signing them
without knowing what they arr. Within
"A few Days after "A man has given bill Of
sale he may find all his other creditors
down on him demanding instant payment
The number Of Englishmcn who are In
the clutches of the money lenders and
hopclessly so is surprising and It en-
braces men In MI callngs Mr. Farrow is
now working for sweeping changes In the
laws regulating money lenders. The out.
come Of his Investigations is In doubt
England without money lenders would he
an uncomfortable place for the great army
of borrowers who pawn family name and
expectations for present ncctls.-Ncw York
Snrf