The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-06-10
JUDGE TO
PROTECT
THE POOR
Richter Aims Blow AT
Inscriptions Credit
Houses
CONTRACTS ARE
lGNORED by COURI
Rights of Seizure Are
Greatly Curtailed
Under New Ruling


furniture companies and protecting
persons who find II necessary to
buy on credit
1T may not be in conformity with
the terms OF the contract this class
Of houses usually makes" said JUS
uce Richter. explaining his scheme,
and what's more. IL may not be
strictly legal. But believe it's
fair, To both the dealer and the Gus
toner II | were 10 enforce the law
strictly To the letter in some OF
these repleyin cases, I'd feel like a
criminal"
Justice Richter's plan is simple
enough. He has decided to let the
purchaser have what he has paid
for. and In worthy cases, where a
workingman has shown an honest
intention to keep up his payments.
the justice has decided TO use the
machinery Of his court TO give him
an opportunity TO make good his OBJ.
legations.
The case or a young mother who
came weeping into the Justice court.
Tuesday. best illustrates how the
Richter plan works.
The woman. married little more
than a year ago. told the court that
the dealer had not left even bed
nj 10
I'VE bought si75 worth OF flrni.
ture when We were married." she
sobbed. while my husband worked,
We made our payments Altoge ther
we paid SIS. Then he lost his job.
The furniture men came last week
and took everything"
Now. III the letter OF the law were
TO bs enforced. the furniture men
would be within their rights. The
contract they drew up for the young
couple states that they have claim
to all the property until II is fully
paid for. In the event OF default
in payments. II is stipulated that
they can take II back at their pleas.
ure. But here's where Justice Rich.
ter hurdles the law in the interest
OF real Justice.
In the case of this young mother
he Immediately ordered the furni-
ture company To return '75 worth OF
furniture
Give her enough so that they
can live comfortably" were his or.
ders. They've paid for that much.
and IT is rightfully their property.
regardless OF what your contract
says"
There was another case. OF a
woman whose baby carriage had
been seized on a writ OF replevin by
an installment house. She had
made only few payments but she
impressed the Justice as an honest,
Woodworking woman. II was up to
the justice TO say whether the writ
should be made permanent, or
whether II should be refused.
"Ill decline To make the writ per-
manent Just now" was his ruling.
"Tll adjourn the case one week. II
this woman shows me AT the end OF
the week that she has made an.
other payment. or has tried 10. I'll
adjourn the case for another week
And as long "a | see that che is
honest and is trying To Iva up to
her obligations, this case will be nd
journed every week until the baby
carriage is paid for
Sewing machine companies which
sell upon the installment plan have
also met with big obstacle in the
form OF Rchter's special rulings
These concerns usually take an old
machine as part payment In many
cases that have come into Justice
court, the women who purchased
them used the machines TO support
themselves and their children.
The contracts are so drawn that
the purchaser forfeits everything.
even her old machine. II she fails
10 mako her payments regularly,
THAT has come 10 an end. too"
said Richter. These companies get
no writs OF replevin until they re.
turn the old machines they have
taken as part payments. And as
long as the women show me that
they are making sincere endeavor
to pay. believe In letting the IN.
stallm snt companies keep the old
machines and giving the women an
opportunity to pay for their new
ones"
The double contract" Is another
form OF credit business which has
been knocked out in Justice court.
This agreement is negotiated In the
following way:
a workingman. usually ignorant
OF the finer points OF the law. pur.
chases about 800 worth Of goods
He pays about 500, and decides to
buy more from the same firm. In.
stead OF giving him another con-
tract, some OF the more unscrupu
lous houses have made n practice
OF adding the list OF articles OF the
second purchase TO the first con