328 
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S M I 
Report, 1897 — continued. 
Sarjeant, Frederick Arthur. (Digest of his Evidence)—continued. 
loans from the Southern Counties Deposit Bank for which he gave two promissory 
notes, and, eventually, a bill of sale, 37,55 et seq. Legal proceedings in connection 
with the distraint levies on Barrett’s goods, after some instalments had been paid ; 
allegation that the bill of sale had been obtained through fraud, the action having been 
settled by the payment by the bank of 105/., for costs and damages, 3762 et seq. 
Scobie, Mackaij John Graham. (Digest of his Evidence.')—Witness is official receiver 
in bankruptcy for Hereford and Leominster, 1367-1369. 
Particulars respecting the bankruptcy of William Barrell in 1896, he having had 
three transactions with Messrs. Fieldings, Limited ; total payment of 135/. by Barrell, 
he having received 125/. the balance still owing being 76Z.; 1370-1433. 1482 
Bankruptcy of two of BarrelFs brothers at the same time, 1373, 1374 Reduction bv 
witness of the proof of debt, for purposes of dividend, from 761. to 58/. 18s. tiri.; 
further reduction, on litigation raised by Fieldings, to 501. 3s. tod.; 1415-1433. 
Explanations respecting the twenty-third section of the Bankruptcy Act of 1890, 
as being easilv evaded and unworkable, in respect of the limitation of the rate of interest, 
for purposes of dividend, to 5 per cent. ; amendment suggested, 1415-1425. 1447-1458. 
1516-1523 Consideration of the legal right of lenders as regards allocation of the 
whole ot the payments to interest, this holding good only in bankruptcy cases, if it has 
been made before the date of the receiving order, 1434-1443. 1452-1355. 
Recommendation that the rate of interest be clearly shown on the face of the 
promissory note, instead of being stated in a lump sum, 1455-1458. 1478, 1479 
Proposal as to instalments being applied in reduction of principal as well as of interest, 
1458-1466. 1516-1523 Suggestion as to the registration of professional money 
lenders charging above a certain rate of interest, 1467. 1540-1552. 
Great hardship when borrowers once get into the hands of money borders, 1468-1471 
Advantage if the bankruptcy court and the county court could apply some check 
upon enormous rates of interest, 1471—1477. 
Information as to the case in bankruptcy, of James Barry, of Abbey Dore, who paid 
to Isaac Gordon (alias B. Edward') 110/. for interest in about three years on a loan of 
50/., the proof of debt having been for 55/.; 1480-1495 Summary of the case of 
Alfred Lewis, w ho paid to Isaac Gordon a total amount, of 1,717/., having received 
about 1,105/., and still owing at the time of his bankruptcy 890/.; 1496-1517. 1538, 
'539 Very high rate of interest charged by Gordon upon a loan to Mr. Hope, 1524. 
Suggestions in favour of a line being drawn as to the rate of interest, above which 
the rate charged should be deemed usurious, 1525-1538, 
Scotland. Very few loans made by Fieldings in Scotland; thev have had no action there, 
Samuel 2228-2236 Discontinuance of witness’ business in Scotland owing to the unfair 
operation of the law of hypothec, Gordon 3104,3105.3371-3387 Inexperience of 
witness as to lending in Scotland, Kirkwood 4159-4163 See also Summary Diligence. 
Secrecy. Great desire for secrecy among borrowers, witness respecting this feeling as 
much as possible, Gordon 3200-3211. 
Selection of Cases ( Hate oj Interest, Sc.) Difficulty of witness in satisfactorily proving 
his list of charges if he is limited to the production and subslantiation of only fifty 
selected cases; amended list of cases under different heads, witness proposing to select 
ninetv-lour out of 574 cases. Farrow 487, 488 Several selected cases submitted in 
proof of the enormous rates or interest charged for loans, ib. 660-717. 
Sheffield. Discontinuance by witness of his former business in Sheffield but without 
having been driven away from the town ; reference hereon to a coroner’s inquest several 
years ago upon two elderly people named Osborne whose deaths were said to have been 
hastened through harsh treatment by the Sheffield Deposit Bank in enforcing a bill 
ot sale, witness knowing nothing about the matter, Kirkwood 4237-4251. 
Documentary evidence and explanations in connection therewith respecting the deaths 
at Sheffield, in December 1881, of an aged couple named Osborne, witness submitting 
that he thereby entirely refutes the insinuation that he was responsible in the matter, 
Kirkwood 5234-5249. 
Shepherd, Ebenezer. Repayments to the amount of 71/. by a man named Ebenezer 
Shepherd, to whom witness had advanced 15/.; endeavour of witness, nevertheless, to 
commit Shepherd to prison in respect of a balance due, the court, however, having 
refused to commit, Gordon 3284-3296. 
Smith, John, C.B. (Digest of his Evidence.)—Witness is Inspector General in Bank 
ruptcy, many money-lending cases having been brought under his notice, 3583, 3584. 
Frequent failures of Welsh farmers through the very high rates at which they have 
borrowed money, 3585-3587——Explanation of three different modes of evasion of 
Section