Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-08
LENT CASH TO PRINCES.
Death Of Sam" Lewis, a Noted Figure
in London.

| ~" ev"1Ous
! Samuel Lewis, a noted money lender
Of London, who has been called the
modern Shylock. y is dead.
What Isaac Gordon was to tn,
ranks of the hard up'' in the profes-
sional and middle classes of England
''Sam' Lewis, as he was widely called
was to the titled aristocracy.
He was power in the land. In bis
clutches he held title deeds OF ancient
estates and securities of almost fabu-
lous amounts deposited as pledges for
his loans. At any moment he could
reduce to absolute beggary many of
the proudent peers and peeresses of the
United Kingdom, His deed boxes if
opened to public inspection could a
tale unfold Of impecunious monarchs
and princes courting his favor to re-
lieve their want of cash.
Personally Lewis had pleasing man
ners and knew well how to keep on
good terms with his clients. He was
regular. visitor to Monte Carlo and
often took large sums to risk for the
accommodation of any of his friends
who might be tempting fortune there.
He was even asked to meet the Prince
of Wales at the home of q mutual ac-
quaintance. At one time he held in
pawn the crown of Portugal. Costly
coronets and tiaras in his strong chest
represented the temporary obligations
to his purse of dukes and dutchesses.
Sometimes the debtors turned, and
Lewis with some unwillingness press
ed for his bond in the open law court.
The judge held that the money lender
was entitled to the ordinary rights of
British subjects and that the debtor
must pay. But such proceedings, of
course, were avoided by be money |
lender as detrimental to bis interests.
There were unavoidable exposures of
his network of operations when some
case Of ruin came under pub
lie notice. Such was the case of the
Marquis OF Conegall. who was declar-
ID bankrupt for 81 800, 900. which he
lad borrowed on his prospects of sue
session to the family estates.
Through the hands of Lewis passed
,he magnificent estate Of Cornburg
Park, in Oxfordshire, the deeds of
which were handed over to him by
Lord Churchill, one of the branch of
he Marlborough family. 30 with Kim
bolton Castle, on which the late Duke
If Manchester. father OF the present
Duke, gave mortgage of $2OO,0OO.'
The seat of Viscount Hill, HawkstOne
Hall, near Shrewsbury, was mortgaged
o Lewis for $3.50 600 and the money
ender acquired in a similar way the
Thames Villa, near Maidenhead,
wing to the indie btedness of the
)owager Cowley.
Another noted case was that OF
lewis cashing for Lord William Nevill,
bird son of the Marquis of Abergaven-
y. promissory notes for $55,e55, ind |
rsed by Mr.. Spencer Clay, Clay refused
o pay. on the ground that his sigma
ure had been obtained by fraud, and
vas sustained in jury, Lewis failing
u the suit he brought against Clay for
ecovery. at the trial it was testified
frat Clay was invited to house party
t Ascot, and there Nevill. another of
he guests. had gained Clay's signature
o the notes, telling him, it was alleg-
d that they rotated to some matri-
nonial troubles Of Lord William 3
lister. Lord William was stated to
lave been already indebted to Lewis
or $3.50, 600, sum which was after
yard paid.
transactions of Lewis money-lend-
ng business were unually effected
Iuietly and comfortably in offices In
jork street in the West End, where
women of rank and fashion could pass
u and out with little risk of Observa-
ion. IL