The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-26
SHOT HIM DEAD.
Harry K. Thaw, Son Of Mil
liOnaire Pittsburg Family,
Kills Stanford White in Madison
Square Roof Garden.
PLAY WAS GOING ON.
Fired Three Times, Two Shots
Taking Effect.
Audience Plunged Into a Panic
and Performance Ended.
SLAYER is ARRESTED.
Gave False Name When Taken
to the Station.
Identified by Cards Found in
His Pockets.
SLAYER is ARRESTED.
Gave False Name When Taken
to the Station.
by Cards Found in
His Pockets.

New York. June 26.-Stan1oTd
White. the eminent architect. of the
firm of McKfm. Mead & White, was
shot last night and almost instantly
killed by Harry Thaw. a member of
the prominent Pittsburg family, dur
ing the performance of the musical
extravaganza. "Mamselle Cham
payne" on the roof of the Madison
Square garden. Mr.. White died before
an ambulance could be summoned,
and Thaw was arrested Immediately
after the shooting.
The Madison Square roof garden.
which has been closed for several
years was crowded with a fashion
able audience. While Harry Short.
who fills the principal comedy role in
the piece. was singing a comic song
and the garden was echoing with the
laughter and applause of the audience
q series Of shots ratified in the rear
of the auditorium. and a man in even
ing dress was seen to fail across a
table at which he was sitting with a
party of friends The man who had
fred the shots fled pistol in hand, to-
ward the nearest exit, where he was
seized and disarmed by police.
Instantly the great audience was
thrown into a panic and a wild STAN
pede occurred during which chairs
and tables were overturned ana men
and women fought with desperation
to escape from the roof.
The man who was shot was quickly
Identified as Mr.. White, but his assaii-
ant was NOT positively known to be
Thaw until after he had been TAKEN
to the station house Persons IN mont
of tina auditorium where the Tragedy
occurred say that they saw man sit
ting with a fashionably dressed wom-
an in the rear suddenly walk down
toward a table in front.
The first intimation of trouble came
when. walking in front of his seated
victim. the man exclaimed: y on We
deserved this. You've ruined my
home" and drawing an automatic
pistol, fired three shots.
sT'u Stand by You"
The first two took effect but as the
third was discharged the pistol was
struck up by a fireman on duty in the
theater and the bullet went skyward-
The woman who had been sitting
with Mr Thaw spraug to her rect
and rushed up to his assallant VINO
was struggling with the fireman,
threw her arms about his neck eX-
claiming:
"I'll stand by you"
The assailant was taken to the West
Thirtieth street police station where he
described himself as John Smith a stu
dent Of 1s0 Lafayette Place, Washing
ton. D. c., but the police on searching
him found cards and letters addressed to
Harry Thaw Of Pittsburg and later MS
identity was fully established.
ThaW had been at the performance all
the evening. and had been noticed to be
very nervous and excited. White had
heen previously to the Manhattan club
and had only been at the garden few
minutes when Thaw confronted him
Fireman Burden took the revolver
away from Thaw and handed him over
20 Policeman Dobbs who placed him
under arrest. Thaw handed the police
man $40 and asked him to notify An
drew Carnegie that he was in trouble.
Thaw # is alleged, said TO the fire.
man. Deserved what he got. He ruin
ed my life and deserted the girl
While Thaw was being held by the
policeman, the young woman, who is
described as short. slender, dark and
very pretty, again put her arms around
his neck. Thaw told her to keep quiet
and not get excited, as all would come
out all right
Immediately after the shooting the
curtain was rung down on the play.
Audience in Panic.
The audience for q few moments be-
neved the firing OF the shots was a hoax
and applauded. But developments came
so fast and It was so suddenly made
clear that they were Witnessing a, trag-
edy that a panic followed.
The performance was drawing to a
close, and Spices big six. a sort OF up
to date Florodora set came on when Mr.
White entered the place. He came from
the Manhattan club where he had spent
the earlier part Of the evening. He took
a seat IN the fifth row and on the left
side CT a table and leaning over en-
gagged in conversation with Harry Stew
ems. the caterer OF the garden
Thaw had been present during the en-
tire performance and with a woman
said to be Mrs Thaw. he had taken
seats at a rear table He was in even
ing dress. and his overcoat was thrown
over the back Of his chair He got ur
every few minutes and walked about
and the spectators later recalled that he
had acted very nervously
The six women on the stage had be
gun their song when Thaw left his wife
and walking rapidly down the aisle
stood for few minutes right behind
Mr. White. looking at him hard
White apparently was utterly iEnor-
ant Of his peril. Then Thaw quickly
pulled pistol from his trousers pocket
and in quick succession fred three shots
Two took effect either wound being
mortal
Mr.. White without a sound slipped
down to the floor. the chair and table
falling on top Of him. The audience
broke into ripple of applause. The
woman nearby seeing what had hap
TContinued on Page 81