SAM LEWIS DEAD

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 50

SAM LEWIS DEAD

MONEYLENDER TO ARISTOCRATS. Samuel Lewis, the moneylender (says a London paper of the 14th January), expired yesterday morning at his palatial residence in Grosvenor square. He contracted a chill whilst witnessing Lord Roberts's fecepton, and though Sir,William Broadbent was called in, he succumbed to sudden heart failure yesterday morning. The name of Sam Lewis, notorious though it be to almost everybody, was more intimately associated with the wealthier classes and the aristocracy, for the majority of whom it had an ominous significance, and in many cases spelled absolute ruin Sam Lewis, who was 63 years of age. began his career some 40 years ago in Dublin by selling small jewellery to* the officers stationed at the barracks. He carried his shop in his pocket. Saving money, he came to London, and commenced by discounting bills for youths of the undergraduate order at 60 per cent. Rapidly piling up a fortune, he launched out, and for many years carried on an extensive and influential practice m Cork street, nobility and well-known society famlies alike coming within his meshes. » Steadily amassing gi eat wealth, Lewis at last dropped his usurious charges to 40 per cent. Then came Sir George Lewis’s famous letter to the Star, and other disclosures happening about the «ame time, the money-lending inquiry was started, which will be remembered chieflv by Sir George Lewis’s fearless attitude during the Commission, and his bold statements concerning the methods of West-end usurers. Bringing his unrivalled experience to hear, he completely exposed Mr Sam Lewis and his agents. Whilst the Commission was still sitting, he offered Saw. Lewis and a, former agent of his, Damei Jay, in a letter to “The Times,”’ the opportunity of bringing an action against him and of going; into the witness-box. Sir .George; Lewis was very bitter against West-end moneylenders generally, and Sam Lewis in particular. “A curse to society and a danger to the community,” he apostrophised them; adding that the West-end usurer was incomparably worse than the country one. One hundred and ten per cent., he said, was the usual thing ; and as an example of their evil influence he quoted the melancholy case of Lord William Nevill. So bitter were Sir George Lewis”s remarks that- Sam Lewis told the “Star” correspondent at Monte Carlo that there must be some cause for hostility on the part of Sir George Lewis, apart fron any antipathy to moneylendmg—“more temper than justice,” he said. Again Sir George Lewis challenged him in a letter to the “Star,” and speaking of Sam jLewis”s rapidly-acquired wealth, he also said that it could only have been made out of his victims by the most shocking usury. Sam Lewis was very fond of games of chance, and his dapper, well-dressed figure., shrewd, pleasant face, with dark whiskers and moustache, and keen, humorous eyes glancing from beneath the brim of a hat set jauntily on one side, was well known at the Monte Carlo tables. He was exceedingly lucky, and once, in four days, Avon over £16,000 at trente et quarante. His stakes were almost im r ariably. the maximum allowed. He Avas married to an elder sister of that talented lady “Hope Temple.” In 1895 he purchased Lady Cowlev”s house at Maidenhead, Woodside, for just over £II,OOO. There \A T as a mild sensation once Avhcu young Lord Ailesbury paAvned himself for £200,000 to Mr -Sam LeAvis. Sam "Lewis was undoubtedly “uncle”—for great considerations—to the Upper Ten.