The Washington times., 1906-07-15

NEW YORK, July 14-Wlth the one
idea of planning a defense for her son,
who is n prisoner in the TOmbs. charged
with murder. Mrs. William Thaw. the
leade Of Plttsburg society and the mis-
tress OF Millions. reached New York
late this afternoon on the Hamburg
American steamer Kalserine Auguste
Victoria
Disappointment greeted her al the
sang plank when the news was broken
10 her BY her son, Josiah ThaW. thar al
though she had hurried back from Eu-
rope she would not be able 70 see and
talk with Harry ThaW until Monday. as
special permit for visiting the Tombs
could not be secured.
That this son she loves needs his
mothers aid and counsel was never
Il demonstrated more plainly than today
when in a terse note he discharged the
extremely successful criminal pTacutOn-
/ ers. Black. OlcOtt. Gruber & BOnynge,
from further connection with his de-
Tense Ia their stead he retained Cuf-
ford ". HaTTidge, OF 149 Broad
way, not because OF his ability as a
/ criminal lawyer. but because he was an
old personal friend from Pittsburg.
Displeased With His Lawyers.
The firm which Thaw tersely dis
missed by letter have worked night and
/ day developing a defense which would
probably save young Thaw from the
electric chair. That this defense was
taking the form Of an insanity plea
| brought about Thaw's displeasure.
That they were overlooking no pos
slble point in mis- favor was shown yes
terday when they developed witnesses
/ in the western part of the State. whom,
IL is said. the dead architect tried 10
1 hire 20 thrash ThaW.
/ The big Hamburg liner, on which Mrs.
/ Thaw crossed the Atlantic. came in
/ later than was expected, arriving at
! quarantine at o'clock. Mrs. Thaw had
/ kept to her state room the entire yoy-
age, having been almost Frustrated by
/ the news which the Countess Of Var
mouth broke 10 her IN London week
after the murder Mrs. George lauder
| Carnegie. her daughter, mingled with
! the other passengers, but did not discuss
/ the case
Received Letter From Son.
After passing quarantine and on the
/ short trip Up the bay, Mrs. Thaw still
! kept to her suite. She received a letter
| from Harry Thaw. which was taken
TO quarantine by Chaplain Wade or the
/ Tombs. II was in his own hand and
affected her more than did the wireless
messages which she received from him
/ the asst two days Of the voyage
ThA letter which the prison chaplain
| brought assured the mother of her
sons love and thanked her for return
/ ing 90 aid him. 1t contained one most
| significant phrase:
Il am not insane"
/ Mrs. Thaw knew that his attorneys
were working on this line of defense.
/ for the daily papers published on the
/ Kaiserine contained a Marconigram
| several days ago telling Of the struggle
| to retain ahenists.
/ Mr.. and Mrs Carnegie both talked
with a reporter who boarded the
steamer at quarantine. Mr.. Carnegie
made a formal statement Ia Mrs.
Thaws behalf
Il have returned to America for the
! defence Of my son, Harry. I will spend
my fortune. if necessary, to see that
he obtains justice. 1 am in no position
TO discuss the case until I have had q
conference with my son Josiah"
Determined to Come Home.
Mr.. Carnegie said further that Mrs.
| Thaw felt that IL was a mothers duty
| to be at the side of ner children when
| they were in trouble. He said that
nothing could have persuaded her to
continue her trip into Europe, though
she needed medical treatment at the
! baths in Switzerland.
Mrs. Carnegie declared that while her
mother had been prostrated most OF
the voyage. she had recovered wonder
fully as the end approached. She spoke
Continued on Ninth Page.)