Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-07-06
THAW PLANS TO
ESCAPE ASYLU NJ.
Success of Emotional Insanity" Plea
Means That He Will Be En-
tirely Free.

NEW YORK, June 29.-An an
nouncement that the defense will make
emotional insanity" the basis for its
Eight for the release of Harry Il. Thaw,
IN jail indicted for the murder of Stan
ford White, set at rest the speculation
on this point today.
Thaw entered formal plea of not
guilty when arraigned on charge of
murder in the court of general sessions
today. The plea was entered with il res
ervation that it may be withdrawn on
Tuesday neXt.
Justifable homicide and the straight
plea of insanity had been suggested as
line of defense, but Thaw himself
made the insanity move impossible by
his refusal to consider it and by declin-
ing to allow alienists to question him.
To Escape Asylum, Too.
1t will not be claimed that the young
man is insane now. Such u plea would
mean a sentence to the asylum for the
criminal insane at -Iatteawan. This
new line means trial, and if tile plea
Of emotional insanity" is justified
IhdW Will be a free man.
The defense, it has also been an
nounCed, plans to bring out the whole
story of Whites life, of his relations
with Evelyn Nesbit before she married
ThaW and of his subsequent actions,
which the defense claims annoyed Mrs.
Thaw and goaded the husband on to
the shooting.
District Attorney Jerome, who is on
his vacation, left Cape Breton yesterday
for New York. The arrangement OF
Thaw today in the court of special SEES
slons was simply for the purpose of re-
celvlng the prisoners plea of not gull
ty' and Mr.. Jerome's return, it is ex-
pected, will hurry the actual trial.
Jerome to Quiz Mrs. Thaw.
1t is suggested that the district attor-
ney may personally conduct the prosecu-
/ ton. Mrs. Thaw will be witness for
her husband at the trial. She has de-
c!ared her willingness to tell all she
! knows. She fully realizes that in doing
SO she will subject herself to a search
ing crOSS-eXamlnatlOn.
That Thaw bought a revolver to kill
White, or that the killing was premedi-
tated. will be denied. The defense is pre-
pared to prove that Thaw had been ac-
| customed, for more than two years, to
carry a revolver. About two years ago,
according to evidence in its possession,
Ihaw was attacked by thugs while out
late one night, and since that time had
carried a weapon.
Thaw's action in telephoning Anthony
Comstock yesterday aroused much inter
est. Mr.. Comstock In an interview is
quoted as saying that he is willing to
appear for the defense if called upon and
give evidence as to Whites conduct.
Mrs. Thaw in Painting Spell.
The strain of yesterdays proceedings
seriously affected Mrs. Thaw. She had
hardly reached her apartments when she
tainted and it was necessary to call a
physician to revive her.
Stanford White was buried late Thurs
day with simple ceremonies at st. James,
L. l., where he had summer home The
services were held in the ST. james
Episcopal church.
White Doomed by Disease
In the opinion of the physician who
performed the autopsy on Whites body
the life of the architect was shortened
not more than two years by the bullets
from Thaw'S pistol. He was found to
be suffering from Brights disease, from
incipient tuberculosis, and from fatty
degeneration of liver.
According to the Globe today investi-
CATION has brought to light the fact that
Stanford White. who was supposed to
be wealthy, had been living beyond his
income and was heavily in debt, owing
100000 to one young member Of a
prominent family and as much to other
persons. In addition to this the Globe
says White had drawn so heavily from
the architectural firm of which he was a
member. that he had been notified he
could draw no more, but would be
allotted a weekly sum, which was not
to be exceeded.
At the conclusion of the court pro-
ceedings today, Assistant District Attor-
ney Mott was approached by a friend.
who asked: What is there in this case"
1T is simply a question" said Mr..
Mott. "of whether New York has got
down to the level of a mining camp or
whether a man has got some chance for