The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-09-09
1900 COMPLAINTS AGAINST
LOAN SHARKS ARE ON FILE
IN PROSECUTORS OFFICE
Shepherd Has Enough Material
to Keep Defendants in
Court for Years
DOUBLE NOTES" SEIZED
These Lay Bare Method by
Which Victims Are Charged
Outrageous Interest
DOUBLE NOTES" SEIZED

Fully 1000 complaints of extortion,
hounding and abuse by loan sharks,
with names. addresses, and histories
OF the cases, are on file In the prose
cutting attorneys Office, a majority
OF the complaints furnishing excellent
grounds for prosecution. and giving
the various loan companies named, In
the courts for 10 years to come.
The complaints, typewriter and
bound In manuscript folders, fill one
large desk drawer. and are >held for
reference.
When the sharks" brought the re-
cent raid upon themselves, by send
ing their "bawlers OUT to bother their
victims, and sending their trouble
makers" to the employers. the prose
cutor obtained possession OF the
books and papers Of all OF the loan
firms complained against this time.
Among the office effects seized, are
more than 10000 cards, containing the
record of each loan, the interest
charged, the principal. dates Of pay
ments, and, on the back OF the cards,
the comments of the "tracers" and
UdhlCIo Ouls VIM AOPOAt NeNssS
on the victim. what transpired, and
also their calls at the victims place
of employment, and what transpired
there. There Is some Illuminating In
formation of loan shark methods on
the backs of these cards. They chron
icle deaths in the family OF the VIC
tim; therats of discharge by employ
ers, quarrels with the victim or his
wife, and also note carefully whether
the victim has been to see 'Shep' and
whether the visit has caused defiance
or not.
But even more important are the
seizures of the double notes" used
by the loan sharks. The prosecutor
has never been able to produce these
double notes" in court, though the
witnesses have always testified to
their existence. Also, in the civil
courts, in suits against loan shark
victims, only one very legal looking
note has been produced by the CON-
panies. Now the prosecutor has thou
sands OF these double notes" in his
possession. held as evidence. One
note is promise to pay the prin-
cipal The other, a separate note, Is
for the illegal interest.
For instance, a man borrowing SIS,
makes out one note for that amount
At the same time, he makes another
note for $35 interest, for six months.
On the corresponding card on file, the
entry appears, Principal SIS, interest
S35. Total to be paid, $110."
In cases of suit by the loan sharks,
or prosecution against the sharks,
only the first note. for the principal,
would be produced. The sharks, In
civil court, would sue for the return
Of the SIS. with interest. and would
have to be satisfied with the legal
rate Of seven per cent. This they
would do only in desperate cases to
get their money back. Otherwise they
would prefer to hound the victim for
the payment Of both notes, and IL he
Jagged, would put their "bawlers out
and trouble-makers on the mans trail.
Gordon w. Quider. Of the American
Loan Co., was added to the list of de-
PENDANTS. Friday afternoon, when a
warrant for his arrest on charge OF
extortion was sworn out.
Cora B. Burnham, Joseph A. Noelke,
and William Eubanks were arraigned,
Friday, pleaded not guilty. and were
released to appear later, Miss Burn
ham and Eubanks, Sept. 20. and Noel
Ike, Sept. 13.
Walter McGregor, and Herman G..
Schilawske are also out on personal
bond to appear Sept. l3.