“HUSH MONEY.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 27 July 1909, Page 4

“HUSH MONEY.”

Echoes of the uortorious Thaw murder trial are still apparent. The London Telegraph’s New York correspondent, writing on May 24th, says ; —American counsel are permitted to sue for their fees, and Mr Clifford Hartridge, who defended Harry Thaw in his murder trial, is availing himself of that privilege. Mr Hartridge claims, inter alia, ,£BOOO as ‘ hush money paid to conciliate persons who would otherwise have injured his client.’ Harry Thaw has always been rather thrifty in paying professional bills, and, aided by his mother, is now putting up what he calls a ‘ very good fight against extortion.’ He has the advantage of being immune from arrest, because he is in a State lunatic asylum, while his property has been transferred to trustees. Both Mrs Thaw and her son rate the services of Mr Hartridge rather low, and decline to reimburse him without full particulars of the sums alleged to have been paid in ‘hush money,’ which so far are not forthcoming. Harry Thaw issued a statement yesterday in which he says that the affidavit published by Mr Hartridge in support of his claim for sums spent in hush money has no foundation in fact. Both Mr Hartridge and the Thaws have taken the newspapers into their confidence, and are issuing their statements to them for publication, and the strife, as revealed to-day, promises still more interesting developments.”