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BANK RECEIVER FIGHTS OUSTER BY STATE CHIEF Thomson Criticizes Central Control. John M. Thomson last night began a fight to prevent losing his receivership of the Kenwood State bank. Thomson was notified yesterday of his replacement by William L. O'Connell, receiver for all except three of Cook county's 140 closed banks, and that O'Connell will seek a court order affirming his appointment today before Circuit Judge John Prystalski. The Kenwood bank's assets would "wither and die" if "pigeonholed in the O'Connell central office under State Auditor Barrett's receivership consolidation plan," Thompson charged. He challenged the auditor's office to show where depositors would gain by any net economy through the change. Planned Another Payment. Thomson said that he asked three weeks ago for permission to pay another 10 per cent dividend [30 per cent has been paid], but that the auditor has ignored his request, "presumably so that the O'Connell régime may reap the credit." The receiver also intimated bad faith in the suddenness of ouster proceedings, that he had an understanding that there would be a chance to discuss the matter first, and will ask a continuance this morning to marshal depositors to his assistance. Depositors representing $148,000 of the $264,000 deposit liability at the time of closing have signed a petition asking that he be retained, Thomson said. "If they leave me alone I can pay out almost in full," he asserted. In addition to funds now available to bring repayments to 40 per cent, unsold bonds have a market value of $52,000—enough for another 20 per cent, he said. Source of Returns. Enough for another 15 per cent is anticipated by Thomson from the stockholders' liability suit. Thus, he figures, repayments should reach at least 75 cents on the dollar within a year or less. "The only leg they have to stand on is economy," said Thomson. "But I hold that it is impossible to liquidate a small bank like this in the proper way from a central office. You can't collect unless you go out after it—and that is exactly what won't be done if it is stuck in a pigeonhole downtown." Thomson also intimated that transferring the receivership may work to the disadvantage of depositors through more lenient settlement of debts to the bank. He said that numerous obstacles had been placed in the way of his making certain collections, and also declared it unfair to have the bank liquidated by the central receiver, because the latter employs in his office the former assistant cashier of the bank against whom he reported a judgment for $5,000. The Lansing State bank today will pay 5 per cent, or $16,355, to depositors, and the Hegewisch State bank depositors will receive 7½ per cent.