Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21
MONEY ON PLEDGES.
GLIMPsEs OF THE PAwNBRoKERs'
BUSINESS IN RICHMOND.
LAM UNDER WHICH IT is CONDUCTED
Judge witt Says IL Is Obeyed Here
as Well rs I'm Any City-"Our
UncIes" Have Aided in the Arrest
OF Many Thieves.

This has been hard and trying winter
upon many people who are well to do.
But it has especially left its marks upon
those unfortunates who have been out Of
work, and without means. There is no
city in the country that is without It's
poor. its unfortunate. and It's evll-doing
elements. These three classes at one
time or another reach the little establish
ments with their varied array Of second
hand goods, the character Of which IL
designated by three brass balls" The
pawnbroker has his peculiar environ
ments, which usually consist Of varied
assortment OF soiled articles OF clothing,
old guns, watches, hats, caps, and all
sorts OF jewelry and musical instruments.
In Richmond there are about fifty per-
sons who are engaged in business desig-
mated by law as pawnbrokers, dealers In
Junk, and dealers in secondhand furni-
ture, clothing, etc. There are twenty
eight actual pawnbrokers. AS rule,
these persons conduct small establish
ments, although some Of them have done
a large amount OF business, and have
amassed a great deal Of money or pro-
perty
LIVE UP TO THE LAW.
Judge Samuel b. Witt, Of the Hastings
Court, who has the granting OF the
license to those engaging in these branch
es Of trade, said to a Dispatch man yes
terday that the pawnbrokers and second
hand dealers Of Richmond we're, as a
general thing. az honest and law-abiding
as this class Of business-Deople In any
city in the Union. He remarked that the
avs governing them in this city were
ycry exactIng, and that the penalties were
'ew people have any idea OF the pro-
lsions Of the law bearing upon our
pawnbrokers, and Of how thoroughly they
are lived up to. There is one man in
this' business in Richmond who Is as
straight and honest as anybody any
where. lie has done great deal In the
way Of bringing 10 justice some OF the
most celebrated thieves ever in this city.
The laws give the citizens ample protec-
ton, and there have been very few
cases of imposition, SO far as l have ever
heard"
A well-known downtown pawnbroker.
when called upon by n Dispatch man.
said: I'VE only want a fair return for
our money and the chances we take.
The laws enacted by the Legislature
are far-reachlng They prescribe that
we shall not charge over 3 per cent.
per month interest upon money loaned
upon pawned or pledged articles. In
most cases, we extend the time for days
and weeks, without any extra charge.
Many a poor woman has been given
what she wanted by the pawnbroker.
when she could not possibly have got
ten IL anywhere else. Whenever We are
suspicious that an article offered for
pawn has been stolen we send for the
police, and the party presenting II has 10
establish his or her ownership"
HOW LICENSES ARE GOTTEN.
In order TO get license as a pawn
broker, the law requires that the applt-
cant shall produce before the Judge Of
the Hastings Court satisfactory evil
dence that he Is q person Of good charac-
ter, shall do business only In the
building designated in the license, shall
keep a book In which shall be fairly
written at the time OF each loan an
accurate account and description Of the
goods pledged, the amount loaned and
the rate Of interest TO be paid, and the
name and residence OF the person pawn
ing the goods. together with a particu
lar description of the patron. including
complexion, color Of eyes and hair, and
his or her height, and general appear
ance. The law further provides that the
deliver to the person pawning the arti-
Gle or articles a memorandum signed
by him, containing the substance OF the
entry required to be made by the pawn
broker upon his own book. This book
Is to be opened at all reasonable times
10 the inspection OF judges or criminal
courts. the Chief OF Police, captains OF
police. or any policeman who shah be
duly authorized 20 see them. The pawn
broker cannot sell any pledge until af-
ter Il shall have remained IN his pos
session one year, and then the sale must
be made at public auction. TO be adver-
tised I'm one OF the daily papers at least
Ave days previous thereto. ANY surplus
money Is 10 be returned 10 the person
pledging tho article or articles. The
license for pawnbrokers In Richmond u
500 per annum. and they must give bord
In the sum of 500 for the faithful COM
pIlance OF the law. There are a number
OF heavy penalties for failure 10 do this.