New-York tribune., 1906-06-27
INSANITY TO BE THAW'S PLEA
Expert Alienists Examine Slayer of Stanford White in
His Cell, Mmderers Row, In the Tombs.
Efforts Made Mother. Who Is Atlantic Line Mid
Ocean. by Wireless Teegraphy.

Insanity will be the sole defence for Harry K
Thaw. His killing OF Stanford White on the
roof of the Madison Square Garden on Monday
night. the authorities say, can scarcely fan 10
be regarded by jury as deliberate murder uh-
less he is pronounced insane.
Thaw was committed 10 the Tombs. without
bail, by order of Coroner Dooley yesterday. and
before he had been in the prison an hour he was
examined by Dr. Austin Flint and Dr. Carlos
Macdonald, alienists. retained by the Dlstrlct
Attorney who will continue their examination
of the prisoner to-day and tomorrow.
Several we'll known lawyers have been re-
tained for Thaws defence. and they undoubted-
Iy will have him examined by other alienists OF
repute and will collect a mass of evidence 10
support contention that he has been insane for
months.
Meanwhile the police and the District Attor-
ney's office will collect evidence in support OF
the theory that Thaw fired three bullets into the
body of his victim to avenge wrong done TO
Mrs. Thaw
Coroner Dooley has set the inquest for to-
morrow morning. and Mrs. Thaw. who was a
witness of the shooting, has been served with
subpoena to appear and testify Should she
refuse. the wife of the accused man. to give
testimony she will be called before the grand
jury and questioned
Inspector Schmittberger who conduct
ing the police investigation of the murder yes
terday. said that Thaw might be insane but the
Indignation gathered by the police indicated
that the murder had been prompted by desire
for revenge This information, he said. IN
line with brief statement made by Thaw i'm
mediately after his arrest, that White had
ruined his wife.
1t has been ascertained. Inspector Schmitt
berger said that on Monday evening the Thaws
and two friends had dinner at Martins res
taurant in Fifth avenue. and that while they
were at the table the. attention of Thaw was
directed by his wife to White. who had entered
the restaurant and had seated himself at an
other table. Thaw did not show any undue ex-
citement at the time, but paid SD for the din
ner. which had included two bottles of wine.
and gave a liberal tip TO the waiter.
Thaw did not follow White from the res
taurant. and the police have not been able to
ascertain that the two men met again before the
fatal encounter on the Madison Square Garden
roof several hours later. There was some evil
dence however the inspector said. that Thaw
had been looking for an opportunity 20 shoot
White because ne lad been told that White had
wronged Miss Evelyn Ncsbit previous TO her
marriage and had boasted of it later. There
was also information 20 the effect that Mrs.
Thaw was greatly disturbed by the appearance
of White in the restaurant on Monday evening.
The police were busy yesterday and until a
late hour last night endeavcr,ng 10 verify a re-
port that Thaw and White had NIT on Sunday
night in Burns's restaurant, in Sixth avenue. and
had talked alone together until nearly 4 o'clock
Monday morning. There was another report
that White had been seen in conversation with
Mrs. Thaw in a theatre lobby recently
The police placed little credence In the story
told by an actress that White told her two weeks
ago he had been warned of Thaw's threat to kill
him. but that he regarded Thaw as a harmless
dope hend."
Assistant District Attorney Mott said yester-
day that he did not think Thaw was insane. and
he believed the prisoner should be treated like
any ordinary murderer. He said inquiry would
be made regarding Thaw's mode of living. his
reputed indulgences In morphine and liquor. and
his designations. with view to analyzIng their
bearing on his mental condition
DR.. Mcclure. the Tombs physician. reported TO
Mr.. Mott that Thaw showed a good appetite
after being locked In cell but exhibited some
symptoms OF emotional insanity and some symp-
toms of incIpient paresis. The physician said
he would watch the prisoner closely to ascsr-