The Political Graveyard: Politicians in Trouble or Disgrace: Usury

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Politicians in Trouble or Disgrace

Politicians in Trouble or Disgrace: Usury
Charging illegally high interest rates on loans

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in chronological order

Russell Sage (1816-1906) — also known as "The Sage of Troy"; "The Money King"; "Father of Puts and Calls"; "Old Straddle" — of Troy, Rensselaer County, N.Y.; New York, New York County, N.Y. Born in Verona, Oneida County, N.Y., August 4, 1816. Son of Prudence (Risley) Sage (1778-1865) and Elisha Sage, Jr. (1779-1854). Whig. Merchant; banker; Rensselaer County Treasurer; delegate to Whig National Convention from New York, 1848; U.S. Representative from New York 13th District, 1853-57; railroad builder; arrested in 1869 and charged with violation of New York usury laws by charging high interest rates on loans; fined and sentenced to five days in prison, which was later suspended. On December 4, 1891, Henry Norcross, a stockbroker, brought a bomb to Sage's office in New York City as part of an extortion scheme; when his demands were refused, he detonated the bomb, but Sage suffered only minor injuries. Died in Lawrence, Nassau County, Long Island, N.Y., July 22, 1906 (age 89 years, 352 days). Interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, N.Y.

		Relatives: Son of Prudence (Risley) Sage (1778-1865) and Elisha Sage, Jr. (1779-1854); fourth cousin once removed of Greene Carrier Bronson, John Adams Taintor, Henry G. Taintor and Daniel Frederick Webster; married, January 23, 1840, to Maria-Henrie Winne (died 1867); married, November 24, 1869, to Margarett Olivia Slocum (died 1918); third cousin once removed of Dwight May Sabin; second cousin once removed of Edgar Jared Doolittle. See Livingston-Seymour-Lee-Williams family of New York.
		See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page

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