THE WIDOW'S MITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WIDOW'S MITE.

750 PER CENT. At tho Lambeth County Court, Salone Murden. a middle-aged woman in widow's weeds, living ill Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington, sued Ellen Day, a widow, described as "a chimney-sweep, ' for £•!, money lent. Plaintiff produced, in proof of her cn.se, an ]()U for 30s. She stated defendant gavo her this in return for 20s advanced. The debt was to be paid by 3s a week, commencing immediately. Judge Kinden: One expects surprises in mi-ney-lending eases, but this is astounding. It works out to about 750 per cent. Plaintiff intimated that it. was quite a. friendly transaction. (Laughter.) She frequently advanced money to persons, but always in a friendly way. (Laughter.) judge I linden: Do you lend money out of kindness and benevolence In your fellowcreatures or us a mutter of business? Plaintil!': i cannot say.

Di fi'iidant slated that she marked what she paid with chalk behind the door. She had .-ivrral transacti ms with Mrs. Murutn. paying her interest nt the rale of 2d in the Is. Once she asked her for 6d in the Is, but witness said she could not afford that. Another time she did not give her credit for 16s repaid, as the weekly repayments had fallen a little ill iirrenr. When witness Inst went to pay, Mrs. Murdcn could not attend to her for sonic time, as she was carrying on betting in the backyard.

Judge Knuten: What- is that you say? Defendant: She carries on betting in her backyard with other women, some of whom lire now in court. i'laintitf (recalled) denied she had a betting business or did any betting. Judge Knulen: Do you do any betting? Now, be careful. Witness: 1 will not say I have never made a bet in my life, but 1 have not done any betting since I have known Mrs. Day. Jlis Honor expressed himself as astonished at these revelations of betting amongst women. The pin in till'was a money-lender of the most dangerous description, lis she look advantage of the ignorance of the least educated and least intelligent people. As defendant had admitted owing £2 10s, he would give a verdict for that amount, but, as a large proportion of that was for interest, he would order that payment be made at the rate of Is a month. (Cheers in court.) In the next case, Mrs. Hannah Reading sued Mrs. Murden for detaining her furniture. The defendant counter-claimed for storage fees and for money lent. Plaintiff said defendant charged her 2d in the Is interest. She had on occasions charged her 6d in the shilling. Her home lntd been broken up on account of the detention of her furniture. Judge Emden: Yours is not the first home which has been broken up by these moneylenders. The order was made for the return of the furniture on payment of ss, money admitted to be lent.