HE THAT GOES A BORROWING GOES A SORROWING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3859, 29 November 1883, Page 4

HE THAT GOES A BORROWING GOES A SORROWING.

The following is from an English paper : —" Mr Justice Day has had before him a case iv which two persons named Burgess, proprietors of a new Aveekly paper published in the city, called tho Daylight, ivere indicted for having published a libel on tho tradesman in the city named Lcwin Samuel, imputing that ho was an extortionate and notorious Jew money-lender, capable of selling up the homes of hard working men, and the beds from under women and children, extorting 150 per cent, and more as interest for small loans, &c. The indictment alleged, under Lord Campbell's Libel Act, that tho defendants published the libel, knowing it to be false It was shoivn for tbe defence that the prosecutor really carried on a money-lending business, and that hundreds of small loans were made at his office. One borrower said he ivas told the interest ivould be 5 per cent. ; but that on a loan of £25 ho received £23, and had to pay £37 10s. Again, he borrowed a sovereign, of which ho received 10s, and had to pay 30s in a month. Another had received £70, and had re-paid £12 in money and goods, and then a levy was made under bill of sale for £84 as still due, besides £4 4s, the expense of tho "levy," Another borroiver said she had borrowed £37, and had paid back £51 10s, and then had hor goods sold at £GG more as still due. Another person, a school-master, borrowed £25, received £23 10s, and had to pay £12 10s for the loan, .md was to pay £3 a month for six months for tho balance. In consideration of tho view tho judge took of this evidence, the prosecutor wished to withdraw. Leavo to do so was not granted, however. Mr Clarke, for tho defence, called a witness from Ipswich, who proved that there was an offico there, at which small loans were made to mechanics or poor clerics, sums often as low as £3, for which tho borrower would have to pay £4 10s, by 3s Gd a week for tivo months, and then tho balance. A country court bailiff proved that tho borrowers Averc often "sold up " for such loans. Tho jury afterwards, under the judge's direction, returned a verdict of " not guilty," and his lordship, on the application of Mr Clarke, ordered payment of costs by the prosecutor to the defendants,