New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-07
LUDLOW, DEBTORS PRISON
SHERIFF SAYS 1T is LARGELY FILLED
WITH INSTALMENT DEFAULTERS.

The imprisonment of Cesarini Menotti in Lud-
lowest. Jail because he was not able 10 pay
balance of 50 30 on an instalment account of
500 10 is attracting the attention of many peo-
pie interested in the welfare of the poor in this
city. The papers in the case are on file in Sher-
if o Brien's office. and they tell singular tale
Of how the law is used to squeeze debtors.
Hyman Moshkow and Henry Canter appear as
plaintiffs in the action against Menotti. These
men are understood TO be instalment dealers.
On January ? last they secured from Justice
Herman Joseph, Of the Seventh District Mu-
nicipal Court, writ of body execution against
Menotti. This placed in the hands of City
Marshal William H. Lee. of No. $40 Second-ave.,
and served February 26 last. Menotti was
taken forthwith to Ludow-st. Jail. Because
he not able to pay the 81 90 on time there
was added to the bill the of So 40 costs.
Menotti, being known a trustworthy man
among his friends, got out of Jail the same day,
his friends furnishing the money to pay the
account, with the costs added.
The wording of the execution giving the mar
shall authority for imprisoning men placed like
Menotti is as follows:
Therefore we Cthe COURT command you that
you collect the amount due on said judgment out
of the personal property of said judgment
debtor, and If sufficient personal property OF said
defendant liable TO execution cannot be found
whereWith to satisfy said judgment. you are fur
ther commanded TO arrest the defendant ana
commit him TO the Jail of the County of New
York; the keeper whereof is hereby commanded
to receive the said defendant and him safely
keep until he shall pay the judgment or be dis
charged according to law.
Ludlow Street Jail" said Sheriff O'Brien yes
terday. lis largely debtors prison the year
around, and many of the inmates there are men
who mean to be honest. They buy goods on in
stalment, as this fellow Menotti did. and when
they need money to pay their instruments some
times they out of work and cannot pay
This Menott case is a little the worst on rec
ord in this Office. He had paid more than nine
tenths of the bill, and was thrust into Jail be-
cause he could not meet the last payment At
any time within the last year it is safe to say
that $500 would have paid the Indebtedness Of
the entire number of prisoners in Ludlow Street
Jail, with. the exception of the federal prison
ers. The law ought TO be changed SO that cash
bail would release a confined on a body
execution. Senator Bowling has introduced a
bill that aims to make this possible If the bill
becomes law cash bail put up for a prisoner
confined on account of debt cannot be seized TO
satisfy the execution"
Another startling case of hardship has just
been brought to light by the Legal Aid Soci-
ety. AS in the other case, the record of the
transaction is at the sheriff's office. R. G. Ring
walt, counsel to the Legal Aid Society yester-
day secured The release from Jail of Antonio
Moore. 1t seems that Moore had boarder
who bought watch on the fnstaiment plan.
Moore arrested codefendant. Inves-
tigation of the by Mr.. Ringwalt shows that
Moiore had signed no papers. made no agree
ment, and. in fact. knew nothing of the tranSac
ton except what ne heard incidentally from his
boarder