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Story
November 22, 1935
The Butler County Press
Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio
What is this article about?
In New York City, three loan sharks who charged exorbitant interest to low-income borrowers were sentenced to 30 days in the workhouse for vagrancy by Magistrate Aurelio in Harlem court. He broadened the vagrancy law to include those with no lawful means of support, amid complaints of violence against delinquent borrowers.
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NEW YORK LOAN
SHARKS
Sentenced
As: Vagrants
New York City (ILNS)—Three loan sharks who preyed on wage earners, were sentenced to 30 days in the workhouse by Magistrate Aurelio in Harlem court, following conviction on charges of vagrancy.
Magistrate Aurelio said that he was taking it upon himself, in the circumstances, to broaden a section of the criminal code applying to vagrancy. The prisoners, detectives testified, exacted exorbitant rates of interest from persons of low income.
The detectives said the prisoners appeared to have no visible means of support and therefore were arrested as vagrants. Detective Wittenberg said many complaints had been received of delinquent borrowers being beaten into unconsciousness.
After referring to the loan-shark investigation in which Thomas E. Dewey, special racket prosecutor, has held twenty-two men, Magistrate Aurelio said:
"I intend to construe the law to mean that any person who has no lawful visible means of employment is a vagrant. Although the word 'unlawful' was not used in Section 887, Subdivision 1, I feel the legislature intended it that way.
"The trouble may be that some of our magistrates have not construed the law in this manner. It is my contention that where it can be shown that persons existing without lawful employment can ride in expensive cars, wear diamonds and live in penthouses and are maintaining themselves by money earned unlawfully; they are vagrants and guilty. This is an enlargement of the word 'vagrancy' as heretofore used."
SHARKS
Sentenced
As: Vagrants
New York City (ILNS)—Three loan sharks who preyed on wage earners, were sentenced to 30 days in the workhouse by Magistrate Aurelio in Harlem court, following conviction on charges of vagrancy.
Magistrate Aurelio said that he was taking it upon himself, in the circumstances, to broaden a section of the criminal code applying to vagrancy. The prisoners, detectives testified, exacted exorbitant rates of interest from persons of low income.
The detectives said the prisoners appeared to have no visible means of support and therefore were arrested as vagrants. Detective Wittenberg said many complaints had been received of delinquent borrowers being beaten into unconsciousness.
After referring to the loan-shark investigation in which Thomas E. Dewey, special racket prosecutor, has held twenty-two men, Magistrate Aurelio said:
"I intend to construe the law to mean that any person who has no lawful visible means of employment is a vagrant. Although the word 'unlawful' was not used in Section 887, Subdivision 1, I feel the legislature intended it that way.
"The trouble may be that some of our magistrates have not construed the law in this manner. It is my contention that where it can be shown that persons existing without lawful employment can ride in expensive cars, wear diamonds and live in penthouses and are maintaining themselves by money earned unlawfully; they are vagrants and guilty. This is an enlargement of the word 'vagrancy' as heretofore used."
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Loan Sharks
Vagrancy Conviction
Harlem Court
Exorbitant Interest
Debtor Violence
What entities or persons were involved?
Magistrate Aurelio
Thomas E. Dewey
Detective Wittenberg
Where did it happen?
New York City, Harlem Court
Story Details
Key Persons
Magistrate Aurelio
Thomas E. Dewey
Detective Wittenberg
Location
New York City, Harlem Court
Story Details
Three unnamed loan sharks were convicted of vagrancy and sentenced to 30 days in the workhouse by Magistrate Aurelio, who interpreted the law to include those with unlawful means of support, following detective testimony on their exploitative practices and violence against borrowers.