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Show COURT STAGGERED. The Romance of a Trifling Lpftn Horrifies Judge Zane and Causes a Stir in the Jury Box. BLOOD MONEY IN SALT LAKE CITY. A Usurer Who Got Kvery Pound of Flesh that Was Due Him Under the Slerciless Lawauf Loan and Interest. The awful distinction between the sordid avaricious usurer, and thegenerous sporting man, was never more prodigally drawn than in a case which came up be-fore Judge Zand today. The title under which it sailed was Joseph Baumgarten against Charles F. Fink, .the former a shrewd dealer in cassimereaf tbe latter a clever dealer in thfr club room. The rencontre rose overman ancient account. They had been friends. Favors passed from one to the other until finally the latter struck a black Friday in life and was . compelled com-pelled to hypothecate. The collaterals consisted of a pair of massive mas-sive bracelets, the loan of $55; interest, $5 a month. It was the romance of this loan and the outrageous interest that accrued that staggered the court and horrified the spectators. spec-tators. "I returned him the bracelets" said the plaintiff, "and took a piece of paper promising promis-ing to pay me the interest until the loan was settled. The first entry was 12.50." "For what pericd was thatv' intemosed Lawyer Martin who represented the defendant. defen-dant. "Two months." "Two and a half you mean?" "Well something like that." "When did you again tax the interest?" "I don't know but he paid me 75 interest," inter-est," replied tbe plaintiff with a mng froid that wa? colder than a blast from Siberia. "On what amount'.'" interjected Judge Zane with a frown that unfolded a volume on extortion. . "On 55, your honor." t The court was staggered and clutched a volum of the territorial statutes for security. secur-ity. "Such interest," said he, "won't do; its outrageous." "When did you again tax the interest?" continued counsel for the defense, rather relishing the climax towards which he was dragging the plaintiff. "He next paid me $30 interest." "On the $55?" "Yes." "Making a total of $102.50 interest on a loan of $55?" "Yes." The court frowned a deeper frown, the jury settled back in its box in mental horror, the spectators threw up their hands as it were, and the case went on its merciless course. |