The Washington times., 1908-08-09
His Petition in Bankruptcy
D, a Ruse to Get Out,
LN They Think.
SAYS CREDITORS
ALL WILL BE PAID
Lawyers Did Not Impose on Him,
He Holds-Dan O'Reilly
Wants His $4,000.

daII>Thaw's action in fling a petition in
bankruptcy was not in order TO settle
up his affairs and pay on his indebted
ness, say those who have studied the
case closely, but was only a ruse on
the part of the celebrated prisoner 70
free himself from the walls of an asv-
lum. That Harry Thaw's finances. are
in as good conCitiOn as they were pre-
ViOus 10 the last trial is the belief of
his friends, and Il is expected that the
appointment Of a receiver will show
that the slayer Of Stanford White is By
no means broke, a e. he sets forth in his
Interviews.
The granting Il receiver by the
court viii be an. admission on the part
of the court that Thaw IS OF a sound
mind, inasmuch as the statutes Of Penn
sylvania prohibit a man Of unsOund mind
dealing in or in any way handling an
estate. If Mr. Thaw wants his financial
matters attended to It will be necessary
for him to have a guardian appointed
by the court\ That matter was settled
several weeks ago when 1t was an
nounced that Evelyn Nesbit Thaw had
withdrawn her suit for divorce and
that she would put forth all her efforts
10 manage her husbands estate,
Says Debts VIII Be Paid.
The statement OF Thaw that he
dOesn't want the impression TO 20 forth
that his Indebtedness will not be paid
IS regarded as significant and that the
prisoner knows his finances are not In
such a bad condition. In this connec-
ton Thaw said:
MY estate, consisting Of lands. Sc
Curiues and coal and coke stock has
been completely swallowed up. I am
practically bankrupt. The money I owe
various lawyers and the expense Of my
trials have cost me nearly every penny
] have. I have asked the courts 10 ap-
point a receiver for my estate, as that
IS the only way my creditors may hope
TO get anything. Their claims will all
be paid and I hope to have something
over
IF 7 had been able 20 get out OF
prison last May at the conclusion Of my
second trial. could have saved the day,
and my affairs would have been ad-
Justed satisfactorily. II that had taken
place all my obligations would have
been met.
'The subsequent proceedings which
Tentatively kept me bound hand and
foot, as far as attending to business
was concerned, left me In such shape
80 that I am unable to pay my bills
Thinks Lawyers Fees All Right.
Thaw was asked II he considered he
had been imposed upon by lawyers with
exorbitant fees.
NO" he replied. IT will not say that;
but. Of course, I realize that some OF the
little lawyers I have had have cOnsid-
cred it would be cheapening to them
selves II they did not charge me. a rich
man, bis fee. / don't blame them,
though"
Although it was known that Thaw's
expenses during the two trials were
enormous it was not thought that the
young millionaire was nearing the end
OF his fortune. The announcement that
he had applied for receiver was re-
ceived with tie greatest surprise.
Lawyer Daniel O'Reiny, one Of the
creditors of Harry K Thaw and per
sonal counsel for Evelyn Nesbit Thaw,
announced this afternoon that he would
fight the bankruptcy proceedings insti-
Tuted by Harry Thaw.
'Thaw owes me today 81 OOO,'
O'Reily said. land I intend TO get It. I
shall have a committee appointed TO
take charge OF his person and estate
and then sue the committee. Thaw has
no legal right to go into bankruptcy.
He IS in the eyes Of the law a Iunatic"
Evelyn Denies Extravaganza.
With tears IN her eyes and her voiceI
trembling with emotion. Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw this evening denied that she
Bquandered Thaw's money. In sorrow
rather thai IT, anger she answered the
statement Of former Governor W. A.
Stone, Of Pittsburg, who filed the peti-
ton in bankruptcy on behalf OF Thaw
that her extravagances resulted in that
action.
Since her husband was declared IN
sane Mrs. Thaw has been living quietly
and fnexpensively with a private Sam
ily IN the vicinity OF Central Park
II have made every EFFORT to save
Harry's money since the affair Of two
years ago" she said "But he insisted
on my spending all wanted, TO let
the people know you have husband
willing TO support you in the best OF
style
II have kept d very careful account
Of my expenses for the last eighteen
months, Every dollar IS noted in
book that Harry has inspected more
than once.
Gasped at His Bills.
mo one has any idea what staggering
bills came to Harry When 1 would
see items for thousands and tens of
thousands. I would gasp. I wanted TO
cut down our expenses. and told Har-
~ during the first trial that I would
not use q cab and wanted TO find a
modest and inexpensive place TO live
but he insisted on my spending money.
THE entire proceeding was a surprise
10 me. Harry had talked over the bills
and said they were not within reason,
and that the people were trying 10
make the expenses just as heavy as
they could because he was wealthy. He
told me he would surprise some Of them
some day. and had said he could get
out OF the mix by going into bankrupt
cy. did not think he would do It. how
ever
People never will understand what
I had to go through. If I wore a new
dress they thought I was sQuandering
money; If wore he same dress twice.
then Harry must be broke. No matter
what way I turned people drew some