Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-14
Gets No More Fees from
Harry Thsw's Mother.
Judge Also Says Case Calls
For an Investigation
OF His Personal Conduct and for
Perjury Prosecution.

Hartridge, one of the attorneys VINO
defended Harry Thaw in his first trial
for the murder of Stanford White, fall
ed today in his effort to collect from
Mrs Mary Copley Thaw, the prisoners
mother, Il balance of $4,000 for coun-
sci fees and disbursements which he
claimed to be due him.
More than that, Judge Holt of the
United States circuit court, in denying
Hartridge's motion to set aside the
sealed verdict of the jury which had
heard Hartrdges suit against Mrs
Thaw, said that an inquiry was called
for regarding the professional conduct
of Hartridgc and to determine wheth-
er ground existed for q perjury prose
cution.
Hartridge had already been paid
$4,000. His suit for $92,0 900 and inter-
est which he claimed to be due as a
! balance has been OH trial for several
days. The jury took the case yester-
day afternoon and sealed verdict was
ordered.
The verdict when handed in today
was found to be in favor of the de-
PENDANT, Mrs. Thaw. William r. Wild
er. counsel for Hartridge, Immediately
| moved to set it aside. Judge Holt
promptly denied the notion
The developments in this case
said Judge Holt, call for a rigid cx-
animation into the professional con-
duct Of the plaintiff to determine
whether grounds for the prosecution
of perjury exist
| Judge Holt ordered the papers in
the case left with the court and that
| The district attorney be notified
| After the verdict was announced to-
day. Judge Holt said:
| Before closing this trial / wish ia
refer to the subject of charges made
| in the plaintiffs bill of particulars for
money paid to various women. If some
Of the payments charged in the bill
| were not made. there are reasons why
an investigation should be made to
determine whether grounds for prose
cutlon for perjury exist in this case.
| II all the payments charged in the
PHI Of particulars We're made. there
are grounds for an investigation to
determine whether the offence of OBJ
| StructinS the course of justice has
been committed. In any case the facts
developed upon this trial call for {,
thorough investigation to determine
whether the plaintiff has been guilty
of professional misconduct calling for
| the action of the courts which admit :
ted him to practice law
| Il therefore direct that the papers
and exhibits in this case be impound
ed and left with the clerk ard thai
they be submitted to the district at
torney for consideration whether any
prosecution for criminal Offence
should be brought and to the grievance
committee of the Bar Association 70,
consideration whether any proceed
inss for professional misconduct
should be brought
II a statement this afternoon, Mr.
Hartridge said:
The only statement | have to make
ut present is that when I first went in
to this case | was as much interested
in ThaW in Il friendly way as | vas
as an attorney. The first thing that he
asked me to do was to protect him II
certain lines, which up to that time
I had known nothing about. I contin-
ued all through the case trying tC
guard and protect him on these lines.
"a few weeks after the shooting iii.
mother sent for me. l subsequent.
represented her and felt. knowing al
that ] did then, an additional sympa
thy with her, ard a feeling that she
should be spared as much as possible
from these stories about her son.
Il was constantly urged by ThuN
and subsequently by his mother. Mrs
William ThaW, to protect him and the
whole Thaw family and the evidence
from Mrs. Thaw's own letters distinct
~ shows she knew that | was doinp
| 1t, Tor which there could be no vouch
ers and for which l was not expected
to make an account.