The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-08-13
fierce LEGAL
FIGHT EXPECTED
ThaW'S New York Creditors
Likely to Act.
MAY OUSl ROGER O'MARA

They Have the Right Under the Fed
eral Bankruptcy Laws to Elect a
Trustee to Take Charge Of Thaw's
Property-Distriet Attorney Jerome
viii Oppose Any Move TO Take
Him to Pittsburg - Some OF His
Relatives Oppose the Bankruptcy
Proceedings.
Pittsburg. Aug. 1.-THE probability
that some New York man may soon
succeed Detective Roger O'Nara. now
serving as receiver and custodian Of
the estate OF Harry Kendall Thaw. is
the proposition in the much-compli
Gated case now most generally dis
cusscd in Pittshurg. This is based
upon the provisions Of the fcdoral
bankruptcy law. II is admitted by al
haS ing a knowledge Of this law that
creditors have the right al their first
meeting q elect a trustee TO take
charge Of all or the property Of De
titioncr in bankruptcy. AMI that such
trustee Immediately superseics any
receiver that may previously have
been appointed by any other author
ity.
Acting upon this provision. IL is sur
missed. tho creditors. majority of
whom ar. residents Of New York. are
likely 70 make a concerted move for
one of their own selection 20 act Is
trustee
Tho hercost legal fight. however. Is
expected because OF reports from New
York that should an attempt be made
| To bring Thaw here. Jerome. il is said.
viii oppose any such move. foarina
| that II Thaw Is once rer1oved from the
jurisdiction of the New York courts
| there w!il be trouble in having him
returned 90 that Jurisdiction Under
the bankruptcy law. should the referee
call for Thaw and he fail to appear
such failure would constitute con
tempt Hence the prospect of clash
between the state and federal author
uics
Legal authorities here agree that
| there is no such precedent govcrninp
the questions raised in this case. anu
All are watching developments with
much interest.
Some Of Harry Thaw's relatives are
opposed TO his move TO be adjudeed q
bankrupt and to have Roger O'Mars
appointed as receiver of his estate
Whether II viii cause a family row be
tween the present Mrs. William ThaW
and the sons OF the late William Thaw
by his FIRST wife, who have been very
friendly to Harry Thaw since his FIRST
trial. remainSto be seen.
II is also a question OF speculation
as TO whether the action of Thaw IN
having his former detective appointed
as his receiver will estranga Thaw
from his WIFE a desire to check whose
extravaganza is said to be one Of the
reasons for the petition in bank
ruptcy.
1t had been understood that Evelyr
Thaw was receiving an allowance
from Thaw's mother sufficient to sup
port her. Thaw said that he hoped he
would be able 20 raise her allowance
this month, and that seems to cast
doubt on the report that she Is secured
by Thaw's mother
Thaw gave out some more details ol
the way in which he spent his money
on his trials. II appears that Lawyer
Delmas got $4,000 altogether for hi>
trip from the Pacific coast TO defend
the young Pittsburger. His expense
acccdns, however, was small, less than
$1,000. The two trials for his life cost
Thaw over 100000.
It., Is said that Thaw proposes to
fight all the claims against him which
he considers unjust and that his re
ceiver Will have an investigation made
Of the methods Of expenditure of all
the sums which Thaw paid ont for de
tectives and other incidental expenses
during bis trials