The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-11
CROP OF CRANKS.
Large and Entirely New One
Has Grown Up
AS the Result Of the Killing of
Stanford White.
ALL ARE AFTER MONEY
Friends Of Chorus Offer to Sell
Information.
Attorneys Have Enough Matter
to Make a Book.
ILL ARE AFTER MONEY

New York. July 1I.-Possibly no
case in the history Of American juris-
prudence has brought to the front a
greater number and variety Of cranks
than the killing Of Stanford White by
Harry Thaw. Every person directly or
indirectly interested has been mum
dated by letters from persons profess
sing to have knowledge or advice that
they are willing to sell for a considera-
ton.
Il am putting aside material that
would fill a book after this case is
over" said Terrence J. McManus one
Of Thaw's counsel. 4 am convinced
that almost every show girl and every
giddy young creature with less tangf-
BILE means Of support is now boasting
of the attentions that Mr. White paid
to her in his lifetime. and every man
to whom they tell their story expects
to realize some cash by Offering to sell
it to US. The most absurd yarns are
being received, and we investigate the
most promising.
we have heard from all the pro-
fessional cranks in the country, but
there is an absolutely new crop. Per
sons are writing to us from Kankakee
or Kalamazoo that while in New York
they overheard comments of White on
Mrs. Thaw which must certainly have
reached her husbands ears, and that
when we send them enough money
to get back to the metropolis they
win supply the facts and remain here
until the trial"
"Other persons say they will come
here from New England or the west
and stay so as to serve as jurors in
the case. with the positive assurance
that they believe ThaW to have been
justified and that they viii vote to
acquit. Some New York men make
the same pledge, also adding please
remit One man writes to Thaw that
he believes the latter has a good heart,
in spite OF the shooting. and having
a large income should show his kind
ness by sending a check. Practical
5okers have mailed Thaw mining
stock for a million dollars or so, de-
claring they wish to have the money
applied to the deferse. There is no
possible suggestion thet has not been
made"
Thaw Insists He Is Sane.
Harry Thaw today reiterated the
statement given out by him to the ef-
feet that he is not insane and that no
lunacy7 commission will be appointed
to inquire into the state of his mind.
For this purpose he asked permission
to see the newspaper men Immediately
after he had breakfast and they were
taken into the prison to meet him.
After greetings had been exchanged
| Thaw said that he had asked to see
them as he wished to emphasize and
! to ask that they give the widest pub
/ icity to the statement he handed them
/ denying that he was insane or that
| lunacy commission would be appointed
to inquire into his state OF mind
MY physical and. mental condition
are good and never were better, said
Thaw 'I had to fight pretty hard
with my lawyers to be permitted to
make the statement which I did make
but felt I wanted to make my position
l. clear. I told them that it would make
/ much for my peace of mind. / could
not rest easy until had given out this
statement.
Speaking of his mothers return to
! this country, ThaW said: Il, with all
/ the other members of the family, was
anxious that mother should remain in
/ Europe She is suffering from rheu-
natisn and went to Europe for the
purpose of taking a cure at Schinz-
mach. Switzerland. and /. in fact all
of us. wished her to take the cure be-
fore returning home OF course
shall be glad to see her but cant
help wishing that she had remained
1 in Europe for her own sake
During his talk with the newspaper
men Thaw took occasion to explain his
| failure to take advantage of the per
mission to go into the prison yard for
exercise yesterday.
ward Yesterday is simple enough said
he. Il spent the day, when not en-
gagged with my lawyers, IN reading and
! writing letters It Is true I was IA
| tigued but not more than have been
| frequently. AS a fact I did exercise
in the empty corridor, which I had to
| rnvself when the prisoners were in the
When Thaw bade the newspaper
men Goodbye he told them that he
| had thoroughly enjoyed the chat and
| added that to talk with anyone besides
LAWYERS. doctors and prison officials
was like getting a whiff of fresh air
| from the outside.
Roger O'Mara. formerly chief of po-
/ lice of Pittsburg, had a long talk with
/ Thaw today. According to O'Mara he
has been retained by the Thaw family
to take charge of the detective work in
the case. He said he had been IN New
York for a week. Henceforth he will
see the prisoner frequently he said
O'NTara said he had known the family
for many years and that he had often
helped Harry ThaW out of boyish
District Attorney Garvan today re-
ceived a letter from William Sturgis, q
friend of Ahe Thaw family dated at
berlin. Conn, In which StUrgis declares
his willingness to meet counsel for the
prosecution at any time. Sturgis is al
legged to have witnessed q threat by
Harry Thaw against the life of Stan
ford White.
A subpoena has been served upon a
Mrs. Schwartz, also said to have wit
messed a threat by Thaw upon Whites
life.