Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-31
THE SHYLOCK OF ENGLAND
Dies the Age OF Thrty-five, and Thousands Shout
tor Joy
urnnnu NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ulrnnru ynnnnnru u,iurlIuu

dln.,nnnnnnnI unu1nuuJuulnfurnuu
Isaac Gordon, money lender who died
In Birmingham last week, was barely
az vet from one end OF Great Britain
10 the other his name was notorious a.
a synonym for pltlless extortions and
grinding cruelty, and his was the dis
tInction OF having wrecked more homes
and caused more misery than any
other man OF his time In England. He
was Polish Jew, but the Jews dis
owned him for his hendishness, refus-
ing to accept his contributions 10 their
various funds and so unsayory was his
reputation that he was unable to live
in any one place for long, meeting with
dlsdalnful and abusive treatment even
in hotels. and being told. when he APP
pealed to their managers, that his room
was preferred to his company.
Although his name was almost con-
stantly in the papers, his personality
was practically unknown TO the pub
lie. II would be safe to say that In half
the proceedings against debtors In the
courts OF the United Kingdom Gordon
was the plaintiff. and in those cases
there was invariably a pitiful story
of souless brutality and racking usury,
always, however, falling Just outside
the province OF the law OF recent
years accounts Of such actions In the
newspapers would be headed Isaac
Gordon Again, but HIS methods were
better known than his individuality.
That method was villainously simple.
II consisted chiefly Of having an Inn
mense field Of operations. and transact
ing his business under countless aliases
likewise without a spark Of mercy. a
poor man would come 10 him to bor-
row money says a correspondent OF the
New York Press. which Gordon would
advance at ruinous rate OF interest
appearing In the transaction, as, say
Mr. Jones. In month or so, II the
debtor were In desperate straits, Cor
don would communicate by mail or
through one OF his confidential clerks,
and lend him more money on terms
even harsher. but In this case the money
lender would pose as one Smith. Thus
spiderlke, he Unanswered until his VIC
tim was so entangled that escape was
impossible. and when he had him safe,
nipped al him like a demon. His rate
OF interest varied from 30 to 800, or even
1000 per cent To one man he al.
vanced $3.50 on a promlssory note for
81 900 Two more loans OF $3.50 each fol-
lowed and for this sum Gordon got In
two years $4,000 This happened In
Scotland, and even after receiving that
sum. Shylock Gordon demanded $500
more, and, by twisting the law OF the
land and sending bailffs down on his
victim, actually got half that amount
out OF him to settle the matter. An.
other man borrowed $4,000 paid back
$4,000. and became bankrupt A dress
maker borrowed $3.50 from Edwards OF
Chester. To pay II she got another loan
OF $3.50 from Spencer. Liverpool had bad
luck and took $500 from Gordon Of Biz.
mlngham, and then was dragged into
court 10 find that the three were one.
Gordon kept close watch over his &C,
counts, and failed not TO remind his
debtors a few days before their nc
counts were due that he would stand
no iri1ing. Debtors who could pay and
those who couldn't alike received his
delicate reminder. II was printed no.
tice that read:
III you fail TO remit per return OF
post writ will Immediately be issued,
and you will get the bailiffs and you
may safely depend upon that. You give
ten times more trouble than your Gus.
tom is worth. and we shall be glad to
get rid Of YOU
Prayers. threats. insults alike were
thrown away on him Influential men
sometimes went 10 plead with him FOR
the wretches that he had IN his snare.
and he laughed at them He appeared
In court time after time, testified coolly.
not 10 say jauntily, and was deaf 20
the sneers and jibes Of the magistrate.
He was summoned before q special par.
liamentary committee, already armed
with realms of evidence against him.
and smiled while he was being rebuked.
The chairman OF the committee cited
few OF the most repulsive Instances OF
his treachery and asked Gordon II he
regarded that as legitlmte business.
Yes he said. in way. | risk my
money and have certain right TO 60
what like with IL. II | like 20 risk my
money and give II 10 a lady under for
~ names / can do 1t. It's my own
money"
Probably he was more touched by the
remonstrances OF his own race for
when the members OF the Birmingham
synagogue refused TO accept his offer
ing he protested. They stood fast, how.
ever. and would have none 90 his mon
ey. although they did not turn him out.
He pleaded with them In a letter, in
which he said: III I sin against the
law Of the land. the lay will deal with
me- II | sin against The law OF God. my
Maker will deal with me. You have no
right TO sit in judgment upon me"
He was universally regarded as utter
~ oallous. but there was a heart and
conscience In him somewhere He was
lonely In a world whera he had made
every one hate him. and wrote IN let
ter TO almost his only friend. Can and
see me. ! wish 10 pour out TO you the
bitterness OF my heart" He preferred
not 10 do business with those OF his
own race, and there have been cases
In which he refused to receive interest
on the money he had lent He had a
love that amounted almost to adora-
tion for little boy the child OF an ac-
quaintance. sending him chocolates BY
mail, calling 90 see him or sending let
tiers asking about his health almost
every day.
He seems 10 have been able 10 soothe
his own conscience about his malprac-
tees When he epoke Of HIS traneac-