New-York tribune., 1906-08-05
MRS. THAW SPEAKS.
ON DEFENCE CHANGE.
Mother Says She Dismissed Olcotf
of Her Oscn accord.


Harry Kendall Thaw. who is imprisoned In the
, Tombs charged with having killed Stanford
White on June 25 denied yesterday that her son
had caused her to change her views regarding
the best possible defence for him. Instead, she
said she had decided TO dismiss eS-Judse Will
lam NJ K Olcott and retain Clifford W. Har-
fridge Thaw's personal counsel. of her own
volition.
1T is entirely ON my own observation" Mrs.
Thaw said. that have come to the conclusion
that had made an error In accepting the first
defence for my son. My son never influenced
me in the slightest as to what course I should
pursue When returned from England made
il a point to observe everything pertaining TO
the case and. after making some mistakes. fin
ally found that my in the right and
consequently have accepted his idea as the
correct one will accept il hereafter, and in-
tend to pay no attention whatever 70 any other
defence. / perfectly satisfied"
This statement of Mrs Thaw. the first she
has made since she returned from England
about three weeks ago. is considered important
as showing that il not influence brought
to bear by her son that caused her 70 act so
UNEXPECTEDLY in dsmissing Mr. Olcott and re-
! tanning Mr. Hartridge. Mrs. Thaw. II is under
stood is in perfect accord with all the members
OF her family, including Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw The two women are said TO be close
than they have ever been.
The two women visited the Tombs together
| yesterday morning. They remained with the
prisoner for about hour. They were chatting
and apparently perfectly happy and contented
when they left, and went still together, to Mr..
Hartridge's office. where they remained for
nearly two hours. going over the essential points
in the defence
DEFENCE EXPECTS QUICK ACQUITTAIA
II cannot be denied that the defence has some
evidence of extreme Importance on which IL re-
lies acquit Thaw What this evidence is Mr..
cartridge will not disclose. II is understood,
/ wever that counsel believe that when the
evidence is offered and submitted 10 the jury IL
will take only a brief time before Thaw leaves
the courtroom a free man. This evidence is in
line with the justihable homicide idea OF the de-
fence. on which emotional insanity is based.
The plea of insanity has been dropped once for
all, and will not be brought up again. But.
despite this elimination Of the insanity plea, the
defence is preparing TO offset any evidence
which the prosecution may bring to show that
Thaw is insane. The alienists who were re-
tanned by Mr. Olcott are still retained. Mr.
Hartridge has not yet talked with them, but still
keeps them He also intends TO retain
three more expert alenists. who will prepare
ports for the defence in they may be
needed. DIR. Charles L. Dana, one Of the alienists
report, as he has not examined Thaw. Or.
Allan McLane Hamilton, however. has made
cursory preliminary report but final or formal
report
Thaw, in his cell in the Tombs, yesterday took
occasion 70 deny emphaticay a story published
Friday afternoon that Ethel Thomas.
an who is said have sued him for $4,000
damages, alleging inhuman treatment. is dead
Thaw said
ETHEL THOMAS ALIVE. SAYS THAw
THE story that Ethel Thomas is dead is an
absolute lie. As far as 1 know she is still alive.
She certainly was alive few days ago, and IL
she is dead it has been since that time The
story that she died two years ago is an abso-
lutte lie
Il have known her" Thaw acknowledged but
never very well. AS far 1 know. was never
served in any suit by her. / believe the case is
of blackmail, and I will not stand for IT, I
will not stand for any OF the accusations she
makes In the affidavit" Examination of the Su-
preme Court calendars failed to show any entry
of such a suit, and, IL is now said, such suit
never brought
Another story denied yesterday was that Thaw
drinks liquor in his cell in the Tombs When |
Thaw first went to the TOmbs DR.. Mcclure the |
prison physician. prescribed a small quantity of |
red wine with Thaw's luncheon and dinner This |
amount was gradually reduced by Thaw, and |
Wlthln the LaSt TWO weeks he has drank nothing |
"Thaw," Mr.. Hartridge said when asked TO !
explain, does not drink anything. and doesn't /
want 1t. He is in better physical condition to- |
day that he has been for years OF course he |
has a slight prison pallOr, but otherwise he is |
in capital health
Various reports were circulated yesterday
concerning who the associate counsel for Thav
will be. William Rand. jr.. former Assistant
District Attorney. was most strongly mentioned |
This was denied, however. by Mr. Hartridge
who said he had never asked Mr. Rand and |
that no one had been retained. The dozen or
more lawyers who have been working on various
phases OF the case counsel said were about
through with their work. and no one outside
of the regular counsel was now employed
The prosecution has about finished its pre-
liminary work. and is ready to go to trial az
any time the may be called. All Of the
witnesses that the prosecution desires already
have their testimony in black and white and
the prosecution can now rest
Il don't know that we are looking for auv
more witnesses" Assistant District Attorney
Garvan said yesterday. I'VE have examined all
the important ones"
The prosecution Notwithstanding is badly
hampered by the continuance of the writ Of
prohibition obtained some weeks ago by John
B. Gleason. of counsel for the defence This
writ, which Justice MacLean Of the Suprene
Court has not yet acted on, withholds all power
from the District Attorney 70 examine witnesses
under subpoena. and only voluntary witnesses
be examined.
Benjamin Thaw, half-brother Of the pris-
oner' announced his intention OF making New
York City his home yesterday by the filing of
plans for the consolidating and remodelling OF
the two four story houses at Nos. 1864 and 1866
Avenue Tbav J :