Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15
OPPOSES INSANITY PLEA
Curtly Tells Them He Doesn't Want
Them.
ARRIVAL OF HIS MOTHER
Returned to New York Too Late in
the Day to Visit Her
Son

| NEW YORK, July I4.-It is
stated that Harry Thaw has dis
missed the law firm. of Black, Oh
colt, Gruber & Bonynge in a fit of
anger, and that the firm of which
former Gov. Frank S. Black is the
head will not defend the young
Plttsburger in his trial for the kill
ing of White.
| Tomorrow being Sunday, no visitors are
| allowed In the city prison except by special
| permission. So far the young mans wife
has been unable to secure this special privi-
| lege from the commissioner OF corrections
| whether the mother will attempt to reach
the Tombs tomorrow is not known She
| may be compelled to wait until Monday be-
| fore seeing the boy upon whom she has
| lavished $4,000 year from her own In
come
Realizing that she would perhaps arrive
| too late to see the prisoner today Mrs
Thaw sent ahead a wireless telegram which
| was delivered TO Thaw early in the day
| The message seemed to cheer him greatly
| Mrs. Thaw was said today to be in fair
| health. having stood the voyage home>re
marka bly, we'll
j.. B. Gleason of counsel for Thaw and
Chaplain Wade of the Tombs prison went
| out ON the cutter that met the vessel to-
day and came up the bay the Kaiserin
with Mrs. Thaw.
Dismissed His Counsel.
| 1t stated tonight that Harry Thaw
| has dismissed the law firm of Black, Oloott
Gruber & Bonynge in a fit of anger. and
that the firm of which former Gov. Frank
| S. Black Is the head will not defend the
young Pttsburger in his trial for the kill
| ing Of White.
The dismissal came it was said as the
| elimination of a number of arguments
Thaw has had with various members of
the law firm over the question of a de-
fenSe.
Judge OLcott. who has been the active
member of the firm in connection with the
case, has all along insisted that insanity be
made the chief point in the defense il is
believed. while Thaw has insisted with
equal, If not greater emphasis. that he
would not stand for the insanity plea.
While there have been numerous argu-
ments between Thaw and Judge Olcott on
this question, there was no open break il
is said, until Friday afternoon. Then, ac-
cordng to the authority upon which the
story is based, Thaw, during a verbal com
bat with Judge Olcott. In the Tombs. be-
came enraged and wound up TRADE by
telling the lawyer that the firm of Black
Olcotr, Gruber & Bonynge no longer was
his counsel.
Declares He is the Boss.
II the boss" Thaw is said to have
declared after Judge Olcott had given 1t as
an ultfmatum that Thaw should place him
self absolutely in the hands of his counsel
as patient in the hands of his physician
and submit entirely to the judgment of the
law firm as to the best manner of conduct
ing the defense.
And l will not stand for the insanity
plea the prisoner added.
Tpdp laft tba
said, and today received a letter according
to the story. from Thaw, in which the
young man put in writing his dismissal of
the firm
A member of Judge Olcotts firm when
questioned about the matter tonight, said:
Our firm was not engaged by Harry
Thaw, but by the law firm of Deafied &
Longfeliow, who are counsel for Harry
Thaws mother and were counsel for Harry
Thaw's father during the elder Thaw's
lifetime. They retained to take charge
of the criminal end of Harry Thaws case.
We have been obliged, in making our plans
for the defense of young Thaw, to go along
lines In defiance of his wishes. Further
than that do not care to talk just now.
Another Cause for Disagreement.
1t is said that another cause for disagree
ment between young Thaw and his counsel
arose out of the payment of certain bills
Thaw contracted in the Tombs after his
arrival there as a prisoner.
The first noticeable disagreement between
Thaw and Judge Oleott's firm came one
day last week, when Thaw issued a written
statement to the newspapers, with Judge
Olcotts consent. denying that he was in
sane, and declaring that insanity would not
be the defense when his case came to
trial. Judge Olcott, in speaking Of this
''Yes; I permitted Harry to make the
statement. He pestered me go much
had to-
Young Thaw was angry when he heard OF
o
ers and made verbal and still stronger
statement along the same lines without
Judge Olcott's consent or even knowledge.
1t was Judge Olcott's turn to be angry
when he saw this second statement IN the
newspapers, and 1t was as a result of that
statement that he laid down the law to
young Thaw Friday afternoon, and ac-
cording to the story, received his dismissal
at Thaw's legal representative in connec-
ton with the murder trial.
Thaw's Dismissal of Counsel
Harry Thaw's letter of dismissal to his
counsel is as follows:
NEW YORK, July L. 1906
Messrs- Black, Olcott, Gruber G. Bonynge:
Dear Srs-After careful consideration I
have concluded to make a change in NY
attorneys, and. while I have no possible
criticism to make of your conduct CT my
case, my decision is such that | have con-
cluded to no longer retain you as my attor-
neys. You WILL therefore. regard your con-
nection with nay case finished, and VIII
pleaSe deliver all papers IN my case 10
Clifford W. Partridge.
II have sent copy of this letter to Mr..
Partridge and ask you to communicate with
him at once, Yours truly,
HARRY X. THAW"
Mr.. Partridge has heretofore acted as
personal counsel to young Thaw.
Mrs. Thaw's Return.
Mrs. VIM. Thaw. mother of Harry K.
Thaw, accused of the murder of Stanford
White. returned to New York today on
the steamer Kaiserine Auguste Victoria
The passengers did not land until nearly