LOS ANGELES, Jul. 11 – A California official talked about bringing a $100,000 suit against Texas Friday, charging intentional delays in extraditing Charles Watson, 24, wanted in California for trial in the Sharon Tate murder case. In Austin, Atty. Gen. Crawford Martin called the contemplated move “ridiculous, absurd.”

Los Angeles County supervisors said they had asked counsel John Maharg to determine if the county can sue Texas. Maharg was told to file suit if he finds grounds.

Supervisor Kenneth Hahn said the Tate trial will cost the county about $2 million and that Texas should pay the added cost of trying Watson separately.

He told newsmen he believed the delays in extraditing Watson were politically motivated. Watson is a cousin of the sheriff in the county where he is jailed, Hahn said. Watson is in jail at McKinney, Tex.

Hahn also said that Watson’s lawyer is campaign manager for the Texas attorney general, who is seeking re-election. Watson’s lawyer is Bill Boyd of McKinney. Martin denied Boyd was ever his manager. “He was campaign manager for one of my opponents who got beat in the May 2 (Democratic) primary,” Martin said.

Watson has been ordered extradited to California to stand trial with Charles Manson, and three female members of his hippie-type clan, accused of the slaying of Hollywood actress Sharon Tate and six others.

However, Watson remains in Texas while an appeal against the extradition decision is pending.

Watson, Manson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins and Leslie Van Houten are charged with murder and conspiracy in the Aug. 8 slaying of Sharon Tate and four guests in her home, and of Leno LaBianca, a supermarket owner, and his wife the following night.

Their trial, now in its 17th day, sees the attorneys still trying to find 12 jurors they believe can fairly try the defendants. Out of 136 prospective jurors questioned thus far, 124 have been dismissed. Only 14 are in reserve on the third panel called.

Hahn has described the trial atmosphere as “a Roman Holiday circus.” He accused Judge Charles Older and the lawyers on both sides of unnecessarily delaying the proceedings.

His estimate that the trial may cost $2 million sets it at more than double the cost of last year’s trial here of Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of assassinating Sen Robert F. Kennedy.

Atty. Gen. Martin’s comment Friday on the threatened lawsuit was:

“Ridiculous, The whole thing absurd. I’m sorry there has ever been any delay at all but, since it reached my department we have expedited it in every way possible. There is no delay on our part.”