The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-30
Thaw viii Enter Plea Of "Emot-
ional Insanity"
WILL EXPOSE WHITES LIFE
Defense viii Bring Out Whole Story
Of Whites Shameful Life--Thaw
Always Carried Revolver
With Him.

NEW IORk June 20,--An announce
ment that the defense will make Emo
tional insanity" the basis for the release
of Harry X, Thaw, in Jail indicted for
the murder OF Stanford White, set at
aceslpuhtetesr Aieannot etaoin aoin
rest the speculation on this point today,
Justihable homicide and the straight
plea of insanity had been suggested a.
u line of defense but Thaw himself made
the insanity move impossible by his re-
fusal TO consider il and declining alien
isis to question him.
II will not be claimed that the Young
man il insane now. Such plea would
be sentence to the asylum for criminal
insane at Matteawan.
This means trial and il the plea of
emotional insanity" is justified Thaw
will be free man. The defense IL has
also been announced plans to bring out
the whole story OF Whites life, Of his
relations with Evelyn Neshitt before she
married Thaw and Of his subsequent
actions, which the defense claims annoy
ed Mrs. Thaw and goaded the husband
on to the shooting
District Attorney Jerome, who ia on
his vacation, left Cape Breton yesterday
for New York. The airnignment Of
Thaw today in the court Of special ses.
sions is simply for the purpose of receiv'
ing the prisoners plea of mot guilty"
and Mr.. Ierome's return. il is expected
will hurry the actual trial. II Is sug'
gested today that the district attorney
may personally conduct the prosecution.
Mrs. Thaw will be witness for her
husband at the trial. She fully realizes
that in doing so she will subject herself
to searhing cross examination. That
Thaw bought revolver to kill White.
or that the killing was premeditated,
will be denied The defense Is prepared
to prove that Thaw had been accustomed
for more than two years to carrying a
revolver. About two years ago, Accord
ing to evidence in its possession, Thaw
was attacked by thugs while out late one
night, and since that time has carried
a weapon. Thaw's action in telephoning
Anthony Comstock was the cause Of
much interest. Mr.. Comstock, in nn
interview, is quoted as saying that he
is willing to appear for the defense il
called upon and give evidence As to
Whites conduct. About year and
half ago." said Mr.. Comstock, "Thaw
came to me and complained about Mr..
Whites actions. After his marriage he
came to me many times. He saw me
again about two weeks before the murder
As to Thaw's purpose in furnishing me
this evidence against White, | firmly
believe it was prompted by the purest
/ do not mean that Thaw
thought White should be murdered, but
that he should BE- taken out Of the com.
munity by legal process, and put in
prison. Thaw seemed to have an awful
weight upon his heart when he visited
me but | was unable to fathom it, and
he never volunteered any information on
the subject
"On the strength Of his information
and from that received in anonymous
letters, which cOrrobOrated Thaw's state.
ments, | endeav0rcd to get at the truth
with view to securing conviction if
possible. But when it came to preparing
4 case against White many difficulties con
fronted me. | had no substantial evi. |
lence to offer in legal action which
would make conviction certain.
"My ill.success in not bringing White
TO the trial seemed to depress Thaw As
10 whether / believe this depression
,aused Thaw TO commit the murder / do |
not care to say"
The strain Of yesterdays proceedings
seriously affected Mrs. Thaw. She had
hardly reached her apartments when she
tainted and it was necessary to call a
physician to revive her.