Photographer Matty's credit problems

By 1872 Mathew Brady had already filed twice for bankruptcy. In New York City, where he had a studio (also in Washington, DC) his friend "Boss" Tweed protected him from creditors [attempting to] execute their judgments.

After he went bust in 1872, he put 19 cartloads of film in storage to protect them from the 94 creditors to whom he owed money in NYC. He then, in the middle of the night,  skipped to Washington, DC.. By the bye, he didn't pay his storage bills either. 

By 1875 he convinced the US Congress to pay him 25K for his negatives as they were important American historical records. He eventually remunerated some of his creditors.

Mathew Brady in 1875