Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-28
PREY on THE PULiCEMEN.
"Moucy sharks" Nictimizc Guardian
of the City's Peace.

of the Ctty's Peace.
Tlmes.icrald. July II:
Conservative estimates place the
amount Of money lent annually by
money sharks" to city employees at
S25.UC. About the City Hall 1t is COM
mon gossip that within the last month
AT agent of one of the loan men went
through the Hall boasting that he had
on his person $1,000 which was to be
delivered to clients in the building.
The Imprisonment of Policeman Pat.
rick W. Horan, of the Lawndale Ave
nue. station. on the charge of obtain
ing money under false pretcnses from
David Weber. of W La Sale street. has
called the attention of the authorities
to the loan shark" evil. To-day the
validity of these loans will be tested
In Justice Gibbons court, when the
ca So of Policeman John W. Gibbons will
bc heard. City Comptroller Kerfoot Is
made the defendant. as he has been or
dcred to hold back the salary of the
officer, and has refused to pay 1t over
tn the money lenders until he has been
ordered to do so by the court.
Chief Ripley says that the money
lender who Is willing to advance cash
to policemen without any collateral
whatever except the fact that they are
OH the city pay roll has brought grief to
many homes and led many a weak
minded officer nstray. Mayor Harrison
and Comptroller Kerfoot bear the Chief
out In this declaration. and unhesitat-
ingly say the advancing of money to
men on u salary Is not conducive to
good citizenship.
According to reports from the Comp.
troller's office these money lenders use
all sorts of methods to advance their
business. Circular are sent to the en-
ployes making them apparently fair
offers. but the City Hall officials say
the offers are deceptive. and when the
sharks" get patron In their clutches
there Is no end to the expenses which
are piled up against the borrower.
Chief Ripley declared yesterday that
the monthly salary of forty of his men
was tied up last month on account of
this evil. and Comptroller Kcrfoot says
he has had more trouble In dealing
with the money lenders than with any
of his regular work.
Registered letters are delivered TO
him and special messengers arrive with
notes asking that the pay of u certain
officer or emplOyc be stopped. Comp.
trOller Kerfoot has ignored all these
until now suit has been brought against
him. and the case which will come up
to-day will settle his attitude In the
matter.
Chief Kiplcy says that the amounts
charged against officers whose pay has
been held up ranged from SO to $40
ana amounted In the aggregate to over
5000. II have taken no action In this
matter" added the chief. "The Comp
troller and Treasurer must deal with
these claims. have told every officer
that he must pay his honest debts. and
| insist on this. About forty of the men
on the force class as dead beats--men
who owe everyone they can. II II were
not for the civil service act | would
dispose of them In short order. I think
the officer who goes to the money lender
Is not any better than the man who Il
ready TO charge him cXorbltant Interest
for loan.
This system of lending money I,
men on salaries Is u detriment to socl
ETY.. but have little sympathy for tn,
man who gets into their grasp" con
tlnucd the Chief. "Nlnc times out %
ten, so far ns the policeman Is concern
ed. you will find that he Is an office
who spends the time he Is Off In Il 81
leon, drinking beer and playing cards
instead OF being at home with his fam
lily. The policeman receives fair sal
airy, and II he does what his consclenc
tells him to do he will he able to liv
comfortably without resortlng to tn
money lender for assistance"
When reminded that he had not n,
tempted torctnrd the efforts of the mon
cy lender Mr.. Ripley said: "Whcn thes
sharks come to me with their trouble
tell them that know nothing abou