Evening star., 1915-06-04
George D. HornIng in Court on
Charge of Violating "Loan
Shark Law"
ENTERS PLEA NOT GUILTY
AND DEMANDS JURY TRIAL
Methods Of Other Brokerage Com.
panies to Be Investigated by
Corporation Counsel.

| erage business in the District of Co
| lumbia is promised as result Of the
arrest yesterday of George D. Horning
| on the charge of violating the loan
shark" law.
Mr.. Horning. who has offices at 9Th
| and d streets northwest, was taken
into custody yesterday afternoon by
| Central Office Detective sergts. War
rem. Burlingame and Evans on a war
rant drawn by Corporation Counsel
Conrad H. Syme.-He gave 5000 cash
| bond and was released.
Mr.. Horning was arraigned in the
District branch Of the Police Court to-
day. He entered a plea of mot guilty
and demanded jury trial.
When the loan shark" law limiting
| the interest that may be charged by
pawn brokers to l per cent month
went into effect, Horning established
a branch office at Relee, Va, at the
south end of the Highway bridge; This
9Th and D streets are connected with
private automobile service for the
convenience of patrons. Loans are
made in Virginia, but property held
as security IS stored IN tHc SdoieS u
the central office.
The contention Of tho corporation
counsel is that the Virginia esta blish-
ment is an accessory to the District OF
fee. The warrant contains hve counts,
Mrs. Emaline French. 3605 Georgia
avenue northwest, being the COM
plainant.
Charges in Information.
In the information. containing five
Counts, filed IL court by Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Roger ]. Whiteford,
| it Is charged that the defendant on or
| about September 1, 1913, and at divers
other times since the said date. in the
District Of Columbia, and in the city
of Washington. in and about premises
401 9th street northwest, did engage
in the business Of loaning money, upon
| which a rate of interest greater than
6 per cent per annum was charged.
the said George D. Horning not having
a license to so do and not being en-
gagged in the legitimate business of a
licensed banker. trust company. saw
ings bank, building or loan associa-
ton, or real estate broker"
1t Is charged in the second count of
| the information that the defendant In
stalled, at 401 9Th street northwest,
numerous safes and vaults. equipping
| the same with burglar alarm system;
tnaC ne QlQ employ OH Lne SdlO pTeH-
| ises numerous clerks, engaged in the
occupation of handling, caring for and
| listing numerous pledges or pawns,
and other evidences of Indebtedness.
| held by him for loans of money, said
| loans being at a greater rate of in
terest than 6 per cent per annum." 1t
| is charged further that the defendant
provides a messenger service which
| is used as one of the instrumentalities
of the business, and that the premises
have been kept open daily during busi-
ness hours, except Sundays and legal
| holidays. 1t is charged that signs on
| the outside of the premises advertise
| the defendants business of loaning
| money: that he provided two automo-
biles as further instrumentalities OF
| his business, the said automobiles be-
| ing parked in front Of the premises
and used in the prosecution of the
business.
Transmission of Security Pledges.
The third count charges that the
messenger service is used to transmit
| jewelry and notes. the same being Of
, fered as pledges or security for loans
to customers, to an establishment be-
| longing to him at or near the south
end of the highway bridge in the state
of Virginia. 1t Is declared the de-
fendant returns through the said mes
senger service such sum or sums of
money advanced by him upon the Sc
curity of Ne pledge or pawns, to-
gether with a coupon or pawn ticket
Indicating that the said article had
been pawned with him. to his said custo-
mers waiting or calling therefor at his
premises, 9th and D streets northwest
1t is set forth in the fourth count
that transportation is provided for
borrowers by way of automobiles be-
l.;
premises at 9Th and D streets north
west to the south end Of the highway
bridge to his office, located there,
where 1t is charged jewelry and other
security were presented as pledges or
pawns and money received therefor by
the borrowers. together with a pawn
ticket, and the said borrowers were
again transported to the premises of
the defendant at 9th and D streets
northwest.
In the fifth count 1t is set forth that
the defendant advertises in hand bills,
theater programs and other advertis-
ing media in the District of Columbia
his business of loaning money. and that
such advertising signs are placed on
the outside of his premises at 9Th and
D streets northwest.
In this count are quoted signs al
legged to have been placed on the out
side of the Washington office.
Inquiry to Include Other Brokers.
Other pawn brokerage companies es-
tablished branch Offices outside the
District when the loan shark" law
went into effect. According to the
corporation counsel, the methods of
these concerns are to be thoroughly
probed and alleged violations or eva
sions of the law prosecuted to the
fullest extent.
LAYS GERMAN SUCCESS
TO AMMUNITION SUPPLY