The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-04
DISCOUNT COMPANY
 WAS FINED $500 Judge Jones Renders Opinion Regarding Money Lenders ON A CONTEMPT CHARGE Summary of Facts Leading Up to the case-FrauduIent Methods of
 These Irregular Bank
 CTS Exposed.
ON A CONTEMPT CHARGE

Tn connection with the case of the Home Discount company, charged with con tempt of court, which was heard in the federal court yesterday, Judge Thomas G. Jones rendered an opinion that vir- tually charges the money lenders that flourish in the city with fraudulent and inhumane practices in regard to their dealings with the laboring class that re- sorts to them for aid when financially embarrassed. He averred that this class has been brought to a condition that is serfdom in all but name.
 The case has been followed with pe- culiar interest by bar and public owing to the fact that it was felt that it would be in effect a test case by which several other similar cases will be tried When the case was called yesterday, there were between twenty-five and thirty members of the local bar present Tn the court room besides a number or other interested persons.
 Summary of Facts.
 Briefly stated the facts leading up 10 the contempt proceedings were as fol' lows:
 A. I. Rose. an engineer on the Alabama Great Southern railway, borrowed s4o from the Home Discount company eiVihs as security an assignment on his wages as vet unearned. On February lz or thls year, he filed a petition or voluntary bankruptcy. giving the above named as- s,.nmant as one of the items on ms scbedule of liabilities. Five days later tbe affair at practically this stage of de- yelopment, was brought up before heleiee in Bankruptcy Birch and he made d rui- irg in the case that the Home Discount oornanv had no legal right to proceed r,i+b the collection of the wages. The company, however, acting under the au- vice of their counsel, Ward & Waru, fused to obey the order served upon MI o T II,ff inc manager of the company, lo withdraw the notice of assignment iioi,, inc railroad for which Rose Worheu o',u @ if is alleged inveigled Rose lhto iaia,S HI ., , making a settlement. On Fepruary -o 'ne referee certified for contempt ings. ,.o,a tbot inc .,a,-s or the company against Rose was
 i. ;,,asn,uch as they had failed 10 cohi- nIv with the law governing the leno'ils of money. and that they were suilty VI oontenpt of court, because they hau re fnsed to obey the order of the referee The <-xnt that he stressed especiaily Was tbis fact: That they should have ooeyeu inc order of the court regardless ol 'ne advice of their counsel. He hnposeo fine upon the Home Discount company of $500.
 Exceptions Taken.
 The attorneys for the defense LOOK eN- centions and were given thirty days III which to file bill of exceptions. Ihe al- tornevs intimated that the case may De carried up to the supreme court or the United States. Y,,axo
 Tn the course of his discourse 'uuse Iones took occasion to condemn the meth ods of some of the money lenalhs coh- cerns. which charge at an interest as bieh as 12O per cent sometimes ana the chicanery by which the provisions or tne act to regulate their business are avoioeo ua also showed how the persecution or these irregular bankers often compeis man in straitened circumstances to ieavelhis position to avoid being practical- l., rohbed of his earnings.