New-York tribune., 1906-07-17
MRS. THAW'S ORDEAL.
SEES HER SON IN TOMBS.
Then Rel1StGtes EE7Judge OIcott as
Counsel-Defence at Odds.


hearing witnesses and securing evidence. al
lowing those in charge take short vacation, the
defence has become so badly split up that there
are now two sets Of lawyers, retained by different
interests with different plans for the defence
Thew's unusual action Saturday when he dis
Eassed the well known firm OF criminal lawyers.
Black. olcOtt. Gruber & Bonynge. and retained
IissoTo V aartFidge as his personal counsel, met
with quick ana most decided disapprOvaI yesterday
On tho oaTs of his mother. Mrs. William Thaw,
who IN uncertain terms had II announced that
she had retained the law lrm which her had
oismisse3- This caused the situation 10 become SO
ba9iy tangled that counsel asking one another
What the next move would be.
There IS a difference OF opinion which law
nE-n sas the upper hand in the matter. Thaw, it is
acknowledged, has the right TO retain whatever
ocuasel ne desires, but az the same time there is
a peculiar situation confronting him. His mother
hss the purse and does not necessarily need to
opsn u. il only through her generosity that
1haw received his $4,000 year. as his fathers viii
crowded that no should receive only $500 a year
rnfn he Was thi-ty-hve years old. Mrs Thaw II
she so decided. could stop the $4,000 and Thaw
would than ind himself practically penniless. his
s2e,O being only drop in such an expensive con-
siaeoncy.
Clifford ". Hartridge. IN spite of the published
rtaNsrlents fkat Mrs. William Thaw had insisted
On Tefsinins ex-Judge olcott, said:
Il can't help anything that Mrs. Thaw does. I
sn retained by Harry and am his counsel, notwith-
standing what counsel any else may retain"
''Wfn you work with Mr. Olcott7' he was asked
Il certainly hope do not why not"
There is great doubt, however. whether Mr.. Hart
ridge win work IN harmony with other counsel
Tho various plans Cor the defence are known 10 be
radically opposite Mr. Hartridge takes the view
fhaR T7sw IS positively sane. and that insanity
plea VIII Ee thought OF. This was acknowledged by
1sns on Sunday. In opposition to this. ex-Judge
Olcott is known 90 have practically decided the
emotional insanity plea. This would make the
counsel work against each other.
Ar. OlcOtt. by orders Of Thaw's mother. however.
any else directly interested. would have
power 20 ask for the appointment OF a commission
20 examine 1haw To his sanity. This commission
could be appointed In spite OF anything that Thaw
his personal counsel could do prevent Il. and.
81 commission should decide that Thaw is insane,
nothing that Mr.. Hartridge could do in the prem
sses would prevent Thaw from being confined in
1GaGteawan.
Mrs. william Thaw announced the retaining of
ex-Judge OlcOtt after she had visited her in
the Tombs yesterday. She had sent for the report
eTs and. through George Lauder Carnegie. her
9n-laW. issued the following:
1.-THE conference OF lawyers which to have
been held this afternoon has been postponed until
tomorrow at p m. at Mr.. Delahelds office.
notified MI L. L. Delaheld an hour ago that
wanted 1r. Olcott 10 continue in the case
Il after this statement had been given out
that Mr.. Hartridge insisted he was still the coun-
sci by Thaws orders Members of the Olcott firm
were busy with the case yesterday afternoon. evil
dently having known That they were TO be con-
tInued some time before the public announcement
was made. Report had il that counsel would pro-
ceed with the insanity plea and apply for a lunacy
commission at the proper time, despite Thaw's pro-
tests.
Mrs william Thaw's visit TO her son in the
Tombs was the chief matter OF interest to Thaw
yesterday. The meeting exceedingly affect
ing one, and Mrs. Thaw, from woman who showed
how she had steeled herself for the meeting before
going to the cell, became a broken down mother
after she had met her son, and wept piteously
his shoulder When she left the Tombs where
she remained for nearly hour. she looked the
picture of misery. sad commentary the fore
thought Of the police shown at that time, when
the aged woman. broken down and supported by
her son (Josiah c. Thaw) and her son-in-law had
TO fight her way through Of morbid onlook-
ers. who thrnnged about the entrance and were
pushed back by the police only just far enough for
Airs. Thaw to escape personal violence.
Mrs. Thaw arrived at the Tombs shortly after Il
o'clock. having been driven downtown with her
son, Josiah c. Thaw. She only few minutes
behind Mrs Harry K. ThaW. Already at the
TOmbs Mr. HaTtrtdge. his partner. A. R.
Peabody, and John B. Gleason of counsel Warden
Flynn and Mr.. Peabody met the aged woman and
Informed her that she must be searched. to which
she resigned herself. When she left the searching
roorn she apparently self possessed and looked
as If she had speeled herself meet almost any
crisis. She even smiled, and her escort. assisting
her. led her 20 the elevator This unusual favor.
which Mrs Harry K Thaw never received. was
given Mrs. Tha1v owing her apparent feeble
ness. When Warden Flynn pointed the CELL Nc.
22O where Tfaw awaiting his mother the men
turned away. Mrs. Harry x. Thaw was talking to
her husband at the time but, when she saw her
Tnother-in-law approaching. she slowly backed
away, without word or sign. and stood some If
teen feet away.
On the mothers arrival at the CELL Keeper John
Smith, seeing that she was somewhat feeble had
opened Thaw's cell door-to get a stool that she
might rest IN the corridor. Thaw, seeing the cell
door open. started rush out his mother
hastsned toward him. and in moment she had
both her arms around his neck. while he with bent
Thaw Almost Collapsed al this time Weeping Dir
almost hysterically both stood in silence. 1t was
my boy ana rhaW's answer Of Mother mother
Keeber smith Si 'y Iyy,rne5 MS back for few,
moments and then explained TO Mrs. Thaw that
the prison rules only allowed visitors to talk to
sStePped out Of the cell and Harry + Ihaw was was
Eidor and talked through the heavy bars to her
It was as Mrs Thaw left the building that the
crowd was 50 great. The largest throng that has
she reserves OF the Elizabeth street station were
needed needed 70 keep them in some sort of order
counsel and relatives al Mr.. Delafeld's office as
dTove 10 Mr.. Hartridge's once. where She con.
S5Ga IoF s, some me ITne and then returned to the
the prisoner for about an hour. Afterward the
s sIIiam S Tbsw Teg 10 9th the eG orTane ana
an-law, went to Rosyn. Long Island. late in the
negie's sgramer home. She viii make frequent
yfil come 10 the cfv to-day to attend the Confer
ence az Mr. Delahelds office Mrs Harry Z. Thaw
% ese EssB her n bdass6ay das 6y however 50 that she Will
Leyy1s L. Delaheld who Mr, Hartridge announced
stil 81 the case. in far advising Mrs. William
his well known custom OF refusing to talk to re-
orters by issuing orders at his Office that reporters
must be excluded all rime3 fron, now This
order repeated at fEeqIsHt intervals yesterday
Harry K Thaw as one Of his counsel learned