Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-31
LOAN SHARK CASES
ENDED BY COMPA
Thirteen Defendants Enter
Pleas of Guilty and Pay
Fines of $1OO Each.
20 ACCEPT rs PER CENT
OF SUMS THEY LOANED
Heavier Fines and Prison Sentences
if They Again Violate Law
or Break Agreement.

Having signed an agreement with the
corporation counsel of the District of
Columbia that they will return to bor
rowe-s. making application therefor, all
interest charged and paid on loans since
March &. 1913. and in other cases ac-
cept three-fourths of the loan in full
payment thereof, thirteen loan men, rep
resenting as many companies. appeared
in the Police Court today before Judge
Alexander r. Mullowny and pleaded
guilty to two charges each of violating
the loan shark" law.
In each of the cases the court i'm
posed a fine of 500 on the defendant
as officer of the loan company on the
first count and on a second count
fine of $500 with sixty days in default
sentence was imposed and sentence
suspended. the signed agreement hav-
ing stipulated such sentences. Most all
Of the defendants had other informa-
were "nolle pressed by the corpora
tion counsel.
When the cases were called for trial
the courtroom was crowded with spec
to try the cases before the jury. if any
OF the defendants did not plead guilty
to the charges.
Jury Is Not Needed.
The jury, however, was not needed. 1t
developed that in each of the cases an
officer of the company was individually
charged on one count with violating the
law, and the company was charged on a
second count. 1t was argued by Assist
ant Corporation Counseis Roger J. White
ford and Robert Williams that they had
to charge the company, as they had been
unable to learn the identity of the vari-
Gus officers of the companies, and were
unable to state whether or not the COM
pany was Incorporated.
That information is Illegal and void
and l cannot impose sentence upon the
individual where the company is charged
with the violation" declared Judge Null
lowny. 'If l imposed a sentence as the
information now stands. the defendant
could secure writ of habeaS corpus and
get his release
Attorney Wilton ]. Lambert. who ap-
peared for twelve of the defendants and
companies. and Attorney Edward L.
Gies. who represented one of the de-
PENDANTS and his company, agreed that
the informations could be changed, so
that the company could be charged with
the individual as its officer.
Enter Pleas of Guilty.
Those who pleaded guilty and were SEN
fenced were:
Charles L. Kidd, charged with violat-
ing the law November Is. 1913, and in
the second count as manager of the
Surety Loan Company. for violating the
law September Is. 1913.
Edward L. Whitford, charged with vio-
lating the law Februry 2, 1914, and, In the
second count, as manager of the Arling-
ton Loan Company. for violating the law
December TO- 1918.
Harry w. Lee, charged with violating
the law January 9, 1914. and, in the sec
ond count. as manager of the Mutual
Loan Company, for violating the law
January 15 1918.
lating the law December 10, 1913, and, in
the second count. as manager of the Re
lance Loan Company. for violating the
law May 3. 1913.
Leo B. Abernathy. charged with yio-
lating the law November 16, 1913, and
in the second count as manager of the
Potomac Finance Company, for violat-
ing the law May ,, 1913.
D. d. Dockety, charged with violating
the law December %. 1913, and in the
second count as manager of the Peo-
pies Loan Company, for violating the
law June 2S 1913.
Joseph J. Wood, charged with violating
the law October 80, 1913 and in the sec
ond count as manager of the Household
Loan Company, for violating the law Oc-
Mark H. Grinder. charged with vio-
lating the law August TO- 1918. and in
the second count as manager of the
American Loan Company. for violating
the law July IS, 1913.
Josiah F. McMullen, charged with vio-
lating the law November Is. 1913. and in
the second count as manager of the New
York Loan Company, for violating the
law October 16, 1913.
Mitchell L. Dobbyn. charged with vio-
lating the law November 2. 1913. and in
the second count as manager of the Union
Loan Company. for violating the law
March IS. 1913.
Donald H. Rose. charged with violat-
ing the law January 8, 1913, and in the
second count as manager of the Wash
ington Loan Company. for violating the
law April .. 1913.
James F. Neale. charged with violating
the law January 26. 1913. and in the sec
ond count as manager of the Capitol
Loan Company. for violating the law
July 10. 1913.
John A. Bain. charged with violating
the law July Z, 1913, and in the second
count as manager Of the Columbia Loan
Company for violating the law December
II. 1919.