Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-29
Coroner's Inquest Takes
But Half an Hour.
Harry K. 1haw Is Named as
Slayer Of Architect White.
laietneut for Murder Soon FolIows..-nrs.
Thau Refuses 10 Give Evidence.

New York, June 2S-Events followed
each other in rapid succession In the
Thaw.White murder tragedy today.
The days proceedings began with the
coroners inquest which consumed
scarcely more than half an hour, and
the jury used only ten minutes IN
reaching its verdict which declared
that White came to his death by
gunshot wound inflicted by Thaw.
The presentation Of the case to the
grand Jury followed without delay anu
by early afternoon an indictment
charging murder in the first degree had
been reported; the prisoner mad peen
sent back to the Tombs without paii
end arrangements had been made for
him to plead to the indictment tomor-
row.
Throushout the entire proceedings
Thaw appeared to be the least inter-
ested person in the criminal courts
building. He chatted and laughed with
his counsel and seemed wholly uncon-
cerned. Mrs. Thaw was taken before
the grand jury but it is understood she
declined to answer any questions bear
ing on the murder and no pressure
whatever was exerted to force her to
testify.
The body Of Stanford White was
buried today at st. James, Long Island.
New York, June 2S.-Decision was
reached Thursday that Mrs. Harry 4.
Thaw will refuse to testify before the
grand jury and that she will plead that
she should not be made to give any
evidence that might be damaging to
her husband. Mrs Thaw asked per-
mission of her husbands counsel to at
tend the coroner's inquest Thursday
and sit by her husbands side, but her
request was denied by the attorney.
The coroners inquest and the meet
ing of the grand jury Thursday, both to
formally name the murderer of STAN
ford White, divided public interest with
the developments of yesterday when an
insanity commission declared Harry X.
Thaw sane and Mrs. Thaw visited her
husband in bis cell in the Tombs
prison.
There was much speculation Thurs
day as to just what position Mrs. Thaw
would take when she appeared before
the grand jury.
It was asserted that the wife had told
her friends that she would go to prison
rather than testify in the grand jury
room, where proceedings are secret and
where the only counsel Is representa-
tive of the district attorneys Office.
Mrs. Thaw told q most intimate
friend she would stand pat and refuse
to say anything. no matter how i'm
pcrtaht the questions Mr.. Mott or Mr..
Garvin may put to her.
This assertion is said to have been
brought from Mrs. Tllaw by the inten-
ton of the district attorneys Office to
make her witness for the prosecution.
Assistants Mott and Garvin, it was
said Thursday. are determined that the
woman shall be examined before the
grand jury where she can be put under
oath and where it is expected Ia learn
from her enough to establish the mo-
tive which actuated Thaw in killing
Stanford White
Thaw passed a rather restless night
in his cell in the Tombs. He seemed to
be in fairly good spirits when he arose
however.
Every seat in the coroner's room was
filled at 1890 when Coroner Dooley ar
rived to begin the inquest. Thaw was
brought in a moment later and took a
seat beside his counsel. The coroner's
Jury was then assembled and sworn
and the examination of witnesses was
begun without delay. Nicholas l.
Stokes. a wealthy coal dealer. is fore
man CT the jury The first witness
called was coroner's physician. DIR
Timothy D. Lehan. who performed the
autopsy on Whites body. He declared
that death was caused by a gunsho
wound, the bullet entering the right
eye.
The most important testimony at the
inquest was given by Lionel Lawrence
stage manager at the Madison Square
roof garden theatre. Lawrence sait
that Immediately after the shooting
Mrs. Thaw rushed up to her husband
and throwing her arms around his necl
said:
"Never mind, Harry. I'll stick to you
through thick and thin"
Thaw turned to the crowd which sur
rounded them and said, "That -
ruined my wife and 1 got him and
fixed him for it,"
Soon after the close of the coroner.
inquest the proceedings against Thav
were begun before the grand jury. A
noon. Mrs. Harry X. Thaw entered th'
grand jury room. She was accom-
panied by her counsel, ex-Judge O!cot
anil Terence McManus.
Mrs. Thaw remained in the CRANE
Jury room about Is minutes. She an(
her husbands counsel then went to TIT
Tombs to visit the prisoner. AT ina
time it was understood that an indlct
rnent against Thaw was being draw
up and that it would be ready for pres
entation to the court this afternoon.
Edward H. Conway, a foreman
laborers at Madison Square Garoen
said that he saw both White and ThaV
the night of the murder. Thaw passe'
twice back and behind the table a
which White sat. The second tim
Thaw approached Whites table. IL
saw Thaw extend his arm and thre
shots followed. White fell and hre
man seized Thaw, who was walkln
away and took away the revolver VIII
which the shooting was done. he sa,
SNEAK