The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-04-09
LEGAL AID TO POOR.
Miss Philbrook's Report Of
the Association Tells
of Work Done.

Chattel mortgage loan companies are
made the subject of a considerable share
of the annual report of Miss Mary Phil
brook, attorney for the Legal Aid Asso-
citation OF New Jersey, made public today.
The young woman says that she has sue
cessfully fought the system and in many
cases has compelled the companies to
make restitution to the clients of the as
sociation.
Miss Philbrook says that during the
two years of the associations existence
545 persons have applied for legal aid.
About half of this number are residents
of Essex County, while the others are
registered from all sections of our State,
and few from New York State Appli-
cants are sent to us from charity organiza-
| tions city and court officials and private in
diyiduals from all over the State. While
the greater part of our work is done in
Essex County, we have done much work
in Hudson, Passaic and Union Counties,
and even in Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth,
Burlington and Camden Counties. The
nature of the cases varies and includes
both civil and criminal cases. Some seek
advice only, and others seek redress.
I'm most of our large cities there are
concerns known as 'chattel mortgage
loan companies who loan money to poor
people on household furniture, requiring
them not only to repay the amount bor-
| rowed, but almost in every instance, by
| means of various subterfuges, double the
amount. We have had about twenty-five
such cases. When a case of this kind
is brought to us we notify the company
that the matter has been placed in our
hands. We have no response to our let
ter, and our clients are never required
to make further payment Our first in
junction against one of the mortgage loan
concerns stands as warning to all such
| evildoers IN Newark and vicinity. They
dislike publication of their methods, and
without exception drop the matter, rather
than allow further exposure"
The attorney tells further that the as
sociation has collected for domestic and
other servants more than $1,000, in small
amounts, in some instances compelling
| large concerns to pay help illegally dis
charged Seventy litigated suits have
been either prosecuted or defended by the
organization, and a number of suits in
which landlords have sought to Illegally
dispossess tenants, have been success
| fully defended. Replevin suits for the re-
covery of trunks and household property
| illegally held by landlords and others,
| suits in trover and conversion against
pawnbrokers, warehouse men and install
| ment dealers have been brought by Miss
| Philbrook for the association.
I'VE have applications daily for di-
| vorce," says the attorney, in her report,
but except in cases needing speedy at
tention. where extreme cruelty prevails
or the custody of children is concerned,
we have been obliged to refuse our SER
vices. This rule may seem harsh, but al
most every applicant desires us to apply
to the court for State aid, compelling the
| different court officials to perform their
services free of charge; few are even will
| ing to pay the court disbursements. We
| believe, as the late Chancellor did, that
| except where great hardship exists, the
| applicant should save and pay the regular
| fees Your attorney has been assigned as
| counsel for the Court of Chancery in one
| divorce suit. We hold ourselves ready
ind willing to undertake any cases as
signed to us.
! In several other instances your at
| torney has been assigned as counsel for
the plaintiff. where the party has ap-
| piled to the court for leave to sue with
| out costs.''
| Miss Philbrook reports that in giving
| aid to male applicants for legal assist
ance she has drawn the line more close
| ly than with women, refusing aid where
! it appears that the applicant can work
and pay an attorney. She reports that
she has had the hearty cooperation of
| the legal profession in her work.
! The president of the association, Mrs.
| Stewart Hartshorn. in her report, de-
/ plores the fact that the organization has
/ been unable to adequately compensate
I Miss Philbrook for her work, so that the
/ attorney has been obliged to devote part
! of her time 10 private practice. The
| president feels that this is unfortunate,
in that it prevents the association from
enlarging its work.