New-York tribune., 1906-07-11
IHAW SAYS HE is SANE
FIGHTS AGAINST DEFENCE
Counsel Cannot Control Slayer of
Stanford White.

For the first time since his arrest, over TWO
weeks ago. Harry Kendall Thaw issued formal
tgrpeuFicten statement yesterday. indorsed with
his initials, sn which he made statements show
ing that he is positively averse to any insanity
plea in his behalf. and viii not for minute al
low that defence 90 be offered.
THO statement was issued late yesterday af-
teFnoon. Ex-Judge William NJ. X. OlcOtt. his
counsel who had been in Philadelphia for sew
sral days, had seen Thaw twice during the day,
and each time Thaw had insisted, against his
counsel's advice. on seeing reporters. Mr.. Oh
colt acknowledged that Thaw could not be con-
krolled IN this matter. and said:
''7haw has been pestering me all day to make
statement 20 the newspapers, much against
my will and desire. have finally consented TO
allow him 10 make a statement"
Mr. Olcott told the warden to admit reporters
20 see Thaw, and they saw him later in the af-
ternoon. Thaw met them at the first tier, TO
which he had been called. He handed the fol-
lowing typewriter statement 10 them:
am informed by Mr.. olcott and Mr.. Gruber
That The interview with the latter in one OF last
evenings papers, quoting him TO the effect that
am now insane, and that lunacy commission
would be appointed 10 determine that fact, has
no 1oupdafion whatever; that Mr.. Gruber never
made such a statement, and that no such COM
mission is contemplated.
Nr. Oloott further tells me that he did not go
10 Philadelphia for the purpose Of inquiring
about or seeing Harriette Thaw, and about her
whatever 20 do with the question of my mental
condition or that OF any member OF my family.
Thaw. 20 all appearances. was decidedly sane
when he gave out the statement He was neatly
dressed in the dark gray suit he the day
he arraigned in court. He wore a collar
snd q neat necktie. He smoked his short stem
pipe oompIacently. and chatted IL perfectly
sane. Asked IL ne wished TO say anything fur
they about his mental state. he said:
That statement embodies all have TO say
GIVES STATEMENT TO REPORTERS
The statement he'd been dictated by Thaw TO
an employe in the Tombs, and was typewriter
there. Thaw had 80 K'd" it by aff1xing his
anitials. ''H. K. tt" at the bottom. He handed
the statement 10 the reporters with smile for
each. He even handed one of them carnation
he was wearing. saying he sorry that he did
not have more for the others
The statement given out by Thaw re-
c-dved with noticeable silence by his counsel.
Not one OF them would discuss IL in any way.
Thaw is known 20 have been one OF the hardest
clients TO handle that a law firm has had in a
long time He has always been able TO do just
as he pleased. and, when placed in a position
where counsel had TO dictate 20 him. he abso-
Jutely refused to accept dictation and has
1inued TO do just he pleased.
Counsel are known practically to have decided
on an insanity plea, only waiting the arrival of
7rrs William Thaw, the mother. before taking
final action. But the positive declaration OF
Thaw that he is sane. and the plain inference
ahat ;.e will not stand for the appointment Of a
1unacy commission any action bearing a
question OF his sanity, falls like a bombsheN in
the counsel's offices. What the next move will
be is unknown.
Thaw is known TO favor justihable homicide
plea. The prosecution believes that such plea
as that is the best proof possible that Thaw is
snsane Such a plea is considered absolutely
impossible, owing to the facts in the case.
The statement which Thaw denied as coming
from Abraham Gruber was that Mr.. Gruber was
quoted as saying. 'Thaw is insane now"
That statement denied by counsel on Mon
day. as Mr.. 6irlher has never seen Thaw and has
had no connection whatever with the case.
While the defence is apparently entirely at
as 10 the final plea which viii be offered in
Thaws behalf. the prosecution continues to COL
lect much valuable information bearing
Thaw's past life as well as the life led by Mrs.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw. Five witnesses were ex-
aunined by Assistant District Attorney Garvan
yesterday. The most important. from the testi-
zIlonY adduced, was James Lederer, brother of
George w. Lederer James Lederer is manager
of a theatre in Philadelphia, and was the man
ager Of '9The wild Rose" company when Evelyn
1Nesbit was q member, and when Stanford White
end Harry Thaw are said to have been rivals for
her affections
DISCHARGED FROM COMPANY
At that time White won, much 10 the hatred
Of Thaw. IL was learned from Lederer that
Evelyn Nesbit was discharged from that COM
pany on the ground that she insubordinate
and had fntimated that she was not amenabIe to
the rules governing the other members Of the
troupe, because OF ''puIl" through George w.
IsedereF and Stanford White. The fact OF the
girls discharge was also corrobOrated by an
other witness. J. b. Jordan one Of the owners OF
the play and treasurer Of the company. Mr..
Jordan declared that ne had dismissed Miss
Sesbit in the fan OF 1908, when 1.-The Wild Rose"
company was playing in Philadelphia
This testimony, Sc further cOrroborated 1t is
ss1d, viii so a long way toward showing motive
for the crime on June 25. The jealousy which
Thaw exhibited at all times against White will
be explained fully by the fact that the Pittsburg
man understood perfectly the favor with which
Miss Nesbit regarded his rival, and that he was
much incensed because OF the difficulty which he
encountered in finally winning her away from
the architect
Mrs Nay Mackenzie with whom Evelyn Thaw
IS living, also witness before Mr.. Garvan.
She remained only a moment, and what she said
S. understood 70 have been unimportant Nellie
1eahey. Mrs. T71aw's maid. was the fourth wit
ness. She did not say anything of Importance.
All OF these witnesses were resubpenaed so
that they may be examined whenever the Dis
frfct Attorney desires
It was learned yesterday that Mrs. Beatrice
Schwartz, who lives in the Hotel Pierrepont in
West 32d street, and whom the District Attor-
ney desires 10 examine. has positively refused
20 appear Mrs Schwartz is Eaid to be the