The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-01

and health, and within six months he
died His wife did not long SURVIVE him
The Largest loan Gordon was ever
known to make was 100000. That sum
he advanced to the son of an extremely
wealthy business man, who, >. within Two
years, would, come into possession of a
fortune of half a million or more left
him by an uncle. This young man, as
did Hastings, needed the money to pay
off an. accumulation Of gambling dzbts
and also to relieve himself OF an. entan-
clement with young woInan, whose
business manager" demanded either a
ceremony or large. sum Of money. There
was no question in this loan about the
ability of the borrower to repay 1T in the
stipulated time, and accordingly GorAen
charged only a '.moderate*-for him4-rate
of interest. 1t cost the young man ex-
actly 900 for the two years use of
$100. 900.
Had the young man wished to, borrow
the money for q legitimate purpose he
could have been accommodated at scores
of brokers offices and at very low rate
of interest. From the very nature Of
his fathers BUSINESS however, there was
danger that the loan might reach the
parents ear, and. for reasons quite OBJ
Vious, he wished to prevent that discov-
cry.
In every case ,Gordon's victims went to
he could exact tremendous interest, b.
cause no one, except in dire citcGm-
stances, ever went to him. Secrecy was
what. each client. wanted above. all ell g.
Though scores of stories of misery and
privation due TO Gordon's usury became
public every. year, there were undoubtedly
hundreds of others of which the world
never heard. The courts are filed with
records gof foreclosures made by the
money lender, which mean that in each
case some hapless borrower had to sell
home and household to satisfy to the
last penny the rapacfeus greed OF the
Unsuitable Gordon.
So great was the Indignation against
Gordon and men, Of his class few years
/ ago that parliamentary inquiry was held
to; determine IF some means could not be
devised to- put a stop to the evil. Gordon
was notified to appear before the commits
sion, but it was not until he was served
with an imperial writ that heawould con-
sent to. go son thegsfand
Instead OF a faWning attitude, as many
expected. Gordon glorled In his business
and when questioned about certain ac-
laeuSa tsons;. made against him hesywent into
ldetails,- the recotlections of which, seemed
to give him great delight .--si t7,s-
/ Bill after bin was drafted, but not one
of them even promised to put an end to
the evils of money lending. and so no
action was ever taken by parliament
II Gordon loaned q man &100, for which
he expected to get ESQ interest. he would
simply make out an ordinary promissory
note. reading something like this:
For value received I promise to pay to
Isaac Gordon. or order three months
from date, the sum of E150."
In that there is nothing to show that
the borrower is paying interest ait the
rate of 200 per cent per annum-it is sim
ply an acknowledgment of debt and
promise to repay a certain amount at q
I specified tine. " esa5a1 s VIZ scr, n9lCW
Gordon himself was an interesting per
sonality-in the same way that a snake is
to the naturalist. He was about medium
height. rather slight of frame-which fact
he concealed by wearing very loose
clothes-and his eyes were as sharp and