The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-07-03
THAW PLEADS
NOT GUILTY

''naW ana MS attorneys are anxious
inat the young millionaire murderer
rball be brought to the bar to answer
for his killing of Stanford White as
soon as possible Thaw has Deen
ready to face any jury which shall be
selected to try him from the moment
he fired the fatal shot.
Thaw's attorneys were not so ready
for an immediate hearing of the case
until this evening The thing which
has brought them to the decision that
an early trial is the very best thing
for their client was the personal ex-
animation this afternoon by former
Judge Olcott. To Judge Olcott, Mrs.
Thaw related her story, the recital,
the relations with Stanford White
from the time he first came into her
life until the time he yielded UP his
own, the victim of his pursuit of a
pretty woman 1t has been known
for some time Mrs. Thaw must neces-
Barily be the witness upon whom the
clearing of Thaw of the crime charged
against him depends. After hearing
her recital the Ptttsburger's attorneys
were equally confident with Thaw that
the lstory will cause the acquittal from
the tombs. After taking her statement
Judge Olcott with an air of confidence
announced that the trial cannot be-
gin too soon to suit him. Thaw, of
course, was familiar with his wife's
story before. 1t was this which led
him to commit murder. Hence his
confidence that a jury to whom the
same tale shall be related will ac-
quit him.
Aside from the appearance of Mrs.
Hhaw before her husbands attorneys
which was the big development Of
the day in the case another new feat
ure has developed and has aroused
gthe greatest interest. This was the
: institution of new and separate in
quiry through jurisdictions proceed
ings.
For Thaw the day just closed was
d long and tiresome one. There were
few breaks in the awful monotony of
pecially hard upon one who has been
accustomed to roam at will, flying
from continent to continent, free from
any necessity of remaining in any
place longer than fancy dictates.
His trip from his cell to the Grim
inal courts building to plead to the
sindictmeit againstz.him was of short
duration. Then he was hurried back
to the Tombs to languish the balance
of the day in his cell with only the
newspapers and lot of letters from
maudlin people to occupy his time.
A visit from Terrence McManus of his
counsel helped to pass an hour, but
the day was long and dull.
The only thing which the young
man had looked forward all day to
break the monotony of his confine-
ment was denied him today-a visit
from his wife But today she was pre-
vented from visiting him. Her exam
ination by Judge Olcott took so much
time that when she was released from
his Office the visiting hours at the
Tombs was over. She was told that
she could not ask that an exception
should be made in her case and re-
luctantly gave UP the visit. But to
Thaw, who did not understand the
reason for her non-appearance his
wife's apparent neglect was an aggre
vation He chafed and pined for her
and as the hour wen, uy after which
she could not come the little bright
ness in his gloomy day dwelt ON the
hope of seeing the woman for love OF
whom he had brought himself behind
prison bars. faded entirely away.
The ordeal through which Mrs
Thaw was passing, however, during
those hours for which her husband
looked and longed for her. was worse
than that of Thaw. For four hours
she was closeted with Judge Olcott
while the attorney, putting his ques-
tions in plain language and digging
deeply into the secrets of the young
womans history drew from her the
whole story of her past. AS he talk
ed two stenographers, working in re-
lays, took down every word that drop
ped from her lips.
II was story told without any at
tempt to gloss over parts that she
would rather have concealed Mrs
Thaw told plainly that in her relations
with White. with his alleged abuse Of
her. and pursuit following marriage
must be found the justification OF
Thaw's act If 1t is to be justified. She
understood and she told all.
When the examination was ovei
she was exhausted. She leaned heav-
lily on the arm of her attorney as she
was escorted to an electric cab which
whisked her away to the hotel Lor.
raine. When she reached her apart