Mrs. Natsch Up for Contempt in Suing for Loss of Her Husband
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Mrs. Elizabeth H. Natsch, whose husband, Charles Natsch, went down with the
Titanic, had an opportunity before Judge Hough in the United States District
Court yesterday to show cause why she or her attorney should not be punished
for contempt for starting suit in the State Supreme Court to recover $15,000
from the owners of the Titanic.

The writ ordering Mrs. Natsch to show cause had been secured by Charles C.
Burlingham, attorney for the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, which
operates the White Star Line. In his bill of complaint Mr. Burlingham sets
forth that Mrs. Natsch, through her attorney, A. Leonard Brougham, violated
the monition issued by the United States District Court at the time the
owners of the Titanic begun [sic] litigation to limit their monetary
responsibility in the loss incurred by the sinking of the steamship to
approximately $92,000. This monition directed all claimants to file their
demands with United States Commissioner Gilchrist before January 14 next and
prohibited them from starting any damage suits during the period while the
limitation of liability proceedings were pending.

Mr. Burlingham argued that Mrs. Natsch should have filed her claim with the
Commissioner instead of starting suit in the State courts, inasmuch as the
Federal courts have supreme jurisdiction in matters of admiralty.

Attorney Brougham insisted that the limitation proceeding would consume a
great deal of time and that his client by waiting would lose her chance to
begin suit, inasmuch as she had allowed a year to elapse between the time of
her husband's death and the beginning of her action.

Judge Hough reserved decision.