PRISON FOR DEBTS.

Shannon News, 6 April 1923, Page 4

PRISON FOR DEBTS.

In dealing with an application to commit a debtor to prison, Judge Sturgess at West London County Court, explained the law on the point. "Largely through the instrumentality of Charles Dickens,” he observed, “ imprisonment for debt was abolished many years ago, but under the Debtors Act. of 1869, power is given to the Court to send a man to prison for contempt of Court if it is shown that ho has means to pay. Many persons think that section is often used as an engine of oppression for poor people, and there has sprung up a system which works in this way. A debtor is earning, say, £2 a week, and as some people can.live on £1 a week there is proof that he can pay what he owes. The Court, however, must use discretion, apd as application, to commit a, debtor to prison, is in the form of quasi criminal trial, there must be distinct evidence of means before a judge has any right to commit a debtor to prison, even if he thinks he has behaved badly.’” His Honor refused to«make the order asked for.