Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-21
w. r. WEBSTER, WHO ONCE LIVED
HERE, INVOLVED IN CHI
cAGo CASE.
VICTIM BEGINS CASE
FOR $4,000 DAMAGES
Webster Alleged to Be Doing Loan
Shark Business Under the Firm,
Nams Of Merrinan & co.-Vietim
Sues For Damages Because He Lost
His Position.

A former MarShalltoNn man, w. II.
Webster, who is we'll known here, has
become involved in case that has re-
suited from the pupiicit3 -t-,,a:-: H!-
caso newspapers have given the evils
of the loan shark business. Web
ster. who is alleged TO be doing loan
shark" business under the name OF
Merrinan & Co, has been made de-
PENDANT in a suit for $4,000 DANA ges
brought by one Abe Lepine an al
legged victim.
Lepine, after he had lost his job
as is alleged because Of ar assignment
held by the Merriman Company. start
ed suit but was unable 10 ger service.
He appealec to the Chicago Tribune.
which has been investigating and ex-
posing the loan shark business ana
the news pa per named Webster as the
person In control Of the firm Of Merri-
man & Co, which does business at AZ
Fort Dearborn building, l05 West Mon
roe street
Webster made his home In this city
for several years prior TO about five
wears ago. He was the owner and
manager O. a green trading stamp
business. which he disposed OF at a
good profit.
Tribune Tells Of Case.
The case Is told of IN the Chicago
Tribune ~ Tuesday as follows:
The right Of loan shark 70 hound
victim 10 his subsequent employ
rnenr' Is to he tested in a damage &C
ton that Will be put in motion this
morning
ABE Lepine. the victim, now credlt
man for State street concern, was III
the employ Of Attorney Percival Steele
wear ago when he Lepine) became
indorser for a friend who borrowed
from Me-riman & Co, known as NO Is
in the official organization Of sharks.
and doing business in room AZ, ForI
Dearborn building, los West Monroe
street.
"1,en,ne became N and had TO 60 TO
a hospital. he kept III his payments
as hest he could and thought he was
ro,onIyins with satisfactory ar
rangenent when he decided to enter
Tho e-nnlov Of Albert Pick & Co.
.sHe was there only Two weeks when
s1erriman & Co.. fled against him. Lee
nine lost his position as result He
has an AFFIDAVIT from one Of the COM
many officials to prove the assignment
vas the So cause Of his discharge
I.epine, thr Attorney Arthur A.
J.eviso1n. entered suit TO recover s1o,-
600 from the sharks.
This morning Attorney Levisohn
directed Sheriff thinner 10 serve no.
tice Of the action on the following per-
sons:
"w. r. Webster Who poses as
real estate agent in room Az, 100
West Monroe street. He resides at
614s woodlawn avenue.
Miss Nellie J. Grassy, cashier in
room, 41o, 1o5 West Monroe street. She
resides at SIPS Prairie avenue.
Attorney Edward Everett, who has
not maintained law office downtown
since the disappearance of MS step
father. Charles Wallace Mosher. the
ex-convict loan shark who disappeared
three years ago as an absconder. Ever
ett's last known address vas 49,
Harvard avenue.
wife of the missing ex-convict. who re-
sides at $3.50 Michigan avenue. Un'h
The Tribune started its anti-loan shark
campaign she was in the investment
business in the Crillv building.
Until the campaign was started
John H. Miller. another shark, did bus
mess as John H Miller & Co But now
John H Miller and Mrs. Nosher are
associated In the loan shark business
as Emerson & Co, Monadnock block,
and they are known as No. % IN the
official loan shark rganization.
Webster Controlling Factor.
Peal Estate Agent Webster IS the
controlling factor IN the Mer-ina1
concern. but Miss G-asslv's wishes
must be consulted In all business
1ransa ctions. TIE interests Of Att7-
nev Everett and his mother. Mrs.
1Iosher. who was widow when the
ex-convict Mosher married her, could
not he determined with any degree o.
certainty. but the prosecuting attorney
believes it will help his case 70 INCLUDE
mother and son in the service o,
papers.
webster form erlv was IN the real
estate business in MarshalltoWn, Iowa.
and came to Chicago just about the
!. time Mosher departed. Miss GRASSY
was the former right hand man Of the
missing Mosher. Attorney Everett was
Nf1c