The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
THE FIRST VICTORY IS WON
Justice Holds w. j. ElIinwoOd to the
Grand Jury for Perjury.
LEGAL BATTLE IS DESPERATE
Civic FederatiOn,. Bureau of Justice
and Citizens League Against
Associated Loan Brokers'.
Chicago-Times Herald, Nov. 16.


Loan sharks have been dealt sting
ing blow One of those who have fatten-
ed so long off the miseries of neces-
sity has been held by Justice Richard
son to the grand jury. Yesterday the
justice decided that in the usual pursuit
of his business w. ]. Ellinwood, a So
called loan broker at 81 Quincy street,
had committed perjury. If the decision
is upheld, and there seems to be little
reason to doubt that it will be, the
chief weapon which the sharks have
used to harass their victims-the at
tachment writ-will have been taken
away.
Without this it will be impossible in
the payment of unjust claims and to
completely ruin it's victims If a court
OF record shall hold as has Justice Rich
ardson, that an affidavit for attachment
made upon 'informatiOn and belief
subjects the affiant to the penalty of per-
jury if false, the exactions of the usur-
iOus money lOaning class will largely
be things of the past. Realizing this
fact, the fight in the Ellinwood case has
been bitter one and the result has
caused widespread CONSERVATION among
the Shylocks.
IMPORTANCE OF THE BATTLE.
On the other hand, it has caused re-
jOtcing among the ranks of the various
reform Orpanizationc which boyo 1oc+
their aid and moral support to the pros
ecution of Ellinwood. The prosecution
was conducted in the name of Edward
Insley, who is member Of the political
committee of the Civic Federation. Ow-
Ing to this fact and the justness Of the
cause the federation has given the mat
/. ter its hearty support, as has also the
Bureau of Justice and the Citizens
League. In fact the fight long ago de-
veloped into a battle between the re-
tous money loaners who are banded to-
gether into an association for mutual
protection. To Ellinwood they have
lent their aid and on various hearings
before the justice as many as fifteen of
their number have been present at one
time.
Insley became Ellinwood's prosecutor
from the fact that he was a surety on
some of the usuriOus notes the latter
held against friend of the Civic Feder-
alton man. This friend was, before he
fell into the clutches of Ellinwood one
OF the brightest young men of the city.
and he had promising career before
him. When Ellinwood was through
with him and turned upon Insley for
more blood money, this friend had lost
position, friends, wife and honor.
ELLINWOOD STRIKES A SNAG,
Because Of this Insley determined to
wage battle against the class which FL
inwood represented, and in the inter-
est of unfortunates whose necessities
drive them to the usurious money loan
er. Insley was not legally liable as
surety on the notes because they had
been renewed against his protest. Ell
Nnwood knew this, and yet 80 bold had
he become that he essayed to run Insley
to earth as he had his friend, forgetting
that he had the support Of such men
as w. T. Baker, E. G. Keith, w. A.
Vincent, Franklin MacVeagh and 9TH
ers, who were associated with him in
Civic Federation work. Even had In
sley been legally liable, the maker of
the notes had paid Ellinwood many
times over what the law would have
compelled him to pay.
Oct. 25 Ellinwood went before Justice
Hotaling and made affidavit that Insley
was about to leave the city and to con-
ceal his goods and chattels for the pur-
pose of defrauding his creditors. Upon
this false paper be obtained an attach
ment writ against him. On the follow
ing day Insley went before Justice Lyon
and procured warrant for Ellinwooi's
arrest upon the charge of perjury COM
mitted in connection with the attach
ment affidavit.
DESPERATE TACTICS OF DEFENSE.
The same day Ellinwood and Insley
met in the Office of George T. Webster,
attorney for the former, and EllihHood
pleaded for settlement, which was re-
fused. The same day Ellinwood, fright