Ex parte Lichtenstein

The petition for a writ of habeas corpus in this case sets forth “that a complaint was filed against the petitioner in the Police Court of the city and county of San Francisco, charging that he was engaged in and was conducting the business of a pawnbroker in said city, and as such received from a person therein named one gold watch as a pledge in consideration of a loan of thirty dollars, and did then and there unlawfully and wilfully charge on said loan a rate of interest in excess of two per cent per month, to wit, interest at the rate of four per cent per month, and thereupon the…