The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-10-18

The presentment Of the grand jury
which was returned yesterday con-
tanned much matter not usually found
in similar dcculnenCs.
The o-cailed loan shark business
was handled without gloves and was
condemned in emphatic terms.
The fee system was also cited az one
under which abuses continue - GROW,
and the inequality Of the personal
property tax assessments was pointed
out to both the public and the tax as
SCISSOR.
In receiving the presentment, Judge
J. Emmet Wolfe of the circuit court,
took occasion to commend the grand
jury on it's good work and to say that
he was glad to see this official cogni-
zance Of some of the evils that ought
to be corrected.
State Attorney Jno. r. Stokes was
with and assisted the grand jury in its
deliberations.
The presert,nent was as follows
GRAND JURY PREsENTMENT.
ITO the Honorable J. Emmet Wolfe,
Judge of the Circuit Court Of the First
Judicial Circuit Of Florida in and for
Escambia County.
we, The grand jurors Of the cir
cult court for the courty or Escamba.
at the fan term a. y. lal&. having
completSd orr la5ftE presert tDis nuF
final pIssentment and ask to be dis
charged
I'VE Bave diligently inquired into all
alleged violations of the criminal laws
in this county. In all cases where the
IA cts justified such action we have re-
turned true bills; in other cases no
bills have been returned.
LOAN SHARK BUSINESS.
we have presented Indictments
against persons charged with conduct
ing the so-called loan shark business
in this county. We have found this to
he a reprehensibIe business in which
the unfortunate are preyed upon and
their weak and needy condition taken
advantage Of to coin money. We have
found that the prevailing rates Of in-
tereSt charged by persons engaged in
this business has ranged from twenty
to thirty per cent per month. We have
found also that all manner Of oppres-
sion has been resorted to to coercs
these unfortunate people into paying
this interest. Many have lost their
employment on account Of il, some
have left the city to avoid the trouble
threatened by the loan men, II sums
claimed to be due were not paid. Many
have lost their household goods and
personal effects. We have found that
in at least two cases loan men have
gone to the homes Of colored persons
and without an officer or legal process
and carried off the household goods Of
the debtor in the absence Of the debtor.
Not only have negroes but poor white
persons have been enmeshed in he
loan mems business and have suffered
sorely on account of it,
In presenting these indictments it
is not our purpose nor is it our desire
to have these persons tried, convicted
and fined and then permitted to con-
tinue this nefarious business. We
have found that two OF the men who
are now indicted have been tried and
convicted for the same thing before.
After paying their fines they have been
permitted TO continue to oppress the
poor. 1t is our purpose and our desire
that this business be stopped and that
the officials charged with the enforce
nent Of the criminal laws see that ii
is stopped.
Complaint was made that Mr. Lok-
tin, the county solicitor, was derelicf
in his duty in and about the recent in
vestigation into alleged irregularitiea
growing out of the last city election in
Pensacola. We have looked into thfs
Captfpuad an Dsga T-troaN