Smyrna times., 1933-07-26
SIDE LIGHTS OF
NEW YORK CITY
Told By L. L. Stevenson in
His Own Immical Way
of Doings in City
INTERESTING SKETCHES

Met Clifford W. Hartridge as he
was hurrying along West Forty
third street The name isn't IA
miliar? A little more than a quar-
ter of a century ago it was on first
pages all over the world. Twice a
day he held conferences with news
paper men, the dean of which was
none other than Irwin S. Cobb.
Whatever he had to say was car
ried by wires across and up and
down the nation and under the sea.
He was quoted directly and indi-
rectly. Newspaper men lay in wait
for him. When he appeared on the
streets, he was stared at. In an
overcrOwded courtroom, eyes never
left his face and his every move
was noted. Clifford W. Hartridge
was the attorney Of record in the
first trial Of Harry X. Thaw,
charged with the Staying of Stan
ford White
Not a head turned as Mr.. Hart
ridge continued along Forty-third
street. His appearance. according
to those who knew him then. has
not changed greatly since those ex-
citing days when he faced William
Travers Jerome, who was trying to
send the young Pittsburgh million
aire to the electric chair. But Mr..
Hartridge is no longer in the pub
lie eye. He was one Of the trag-
edies of that famous case, which
caused so much furore at the time
Because Of that case, he was dis
barred and has never been rein
stated.
After the case, Mr.. Hartridge
brought suit against the Thaw fam
lily for his fees and money expend-
ed. He had been paid some on ac-
count but claimed that approx
mately 100000 was still due. He
started the suit in the state courts,
but on petition Of the family, it
was transferred to the Federal
court. Mr.. Hartridge introduced
proof that the fee, out Of which he
was to pay his law partner who
had died before the case came to
trial, was not all for legal service
but included also about $4,000 Of
his own funds which he had spent
in Thaw's behalf. He lost the suit
and the matter was taken up with
the Bar association. That body held
that his bill Of particulars had not
been ethical, and so he was barred
from practice.
Before taking the Thaw case, Mr..
Hartridge had been a successful
New York attorney, his income at |
that time. 50 it was said, having
been about $4,000 a year, not a
bad figure for 1906. Fate took a |
hand in his entering the Thaw case.
Through his interest in bridge. Mr.. |
Hartridge knew Thaw. So when
Thaw was confined in the Tombs, |
after that tragedy on the old AIadi !
son Square Garden roof. he went |
to see If he could do anything for /
him He was at once engaged as |
Thaw's attorney. Others came into
the case, including Dolphin VI. Del
mas, but Mr.. Hartridge was the at
torney Of record. Thus he became
known over the world. And now
he goes about New York unnoticed.
Curiously, to me at least, his in
ferest in bridge is undiminished.
BE not only still plays but writes
about it.
After a short chat with Mr.. Hart
ridge, continued along Forty-third
street and at Eighth avenue met a
friend familiar with the ways of
the underworld The depression
has hit those who live without the
law as well as others, he said. EN-
ployees of racketeers no longer get
the wages they did in the past. For
instance, they will commit a petty
theft for IS; wreck a place and
beat up anyone handy for S25. and
put the arm on" (kidnap) for $780,
A beating so severe that there is
risk of murder charge is done for
$50. and a bomb job calls for S1OO.
These prices are per man, the tctal
cost OF the job, OF course. depend
ing on the number engaged.
O. 1881. Bell syndicate.-wNU Service.