The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-22
EMOTIONAL INSANITY.
Harry Thaw's Plea Has Finally Been
Decided Upon.

New York, Aug. ga decision
was reached today by the attorneys
for Harry K. Thaw that Thaw's de-
Tense to the charge of killing Stanford
White will be a plea of emotional in
sanity. This will include as a part OF
the defense the declaration that
Thaw's insanity existed only until
after White was killed and that Thaw
is now sane again and has been since
the killing.
The decision to make this plea was
reached after the reports Of two
alienists who visited Thaw in the
Tombs yesterday had been communi-
Gated to CLIFFORD w Hartridge OF
Thaw's counsel.
It was decided also today that Mrs.
Harry K ThaW will be the chief wit
ness of the defense in its effort to
prove that Thaw was insane when he
killed White.
It was over the question whether a
plea of insanity should be made that
Thaw and his former counsel dis
agreed. resulting in the dismissal of
the lawyers. The plea insisted upon
the admission that he is now insane
and if accepted by the court and jury
would have caused his confinement in
an insane asylum. The plea now de-
cided upon makes no such admission.
New evidence is now said to be in
the possession of the Thaw defence
which will show that Stanford White
carried a revolver for more than two
years prior to his death at the hands
of Harry Kendall Thaw on the Madf-
son Square Garden roof. The min
utes of the coroner's inquest and
the testimony OF eye-witnesses Of
the killing viii also be used by Thaw's S
counsel to prove that ThaW shot down
Stanford White from in front. thus
giving the architect a chance to draw
his weapon.
When Thaw's case goes to trial in
the Decent Der term, his lawyers will
produce evidence to show that Stan
ford White had endeavored for three
years to blacken the reputation of the
young man. It will be declared that
Whites sole motive was revenge
against ThaW for his successful suit
with Evelyn Nesbit.
It is now almost a certainty that
Clifford W. Hartridge, chief counsel
for ThaW's defence. will be his trial
lawyer. All talk of the retention of
James W. Osborne is based only upon
rumor. David Watson, the noted con-
stitutional and corporation lawyer OF
Pittsburg, and a personal friend of the
late William Thaw, father of the ac-
cused man, will act in an advisory
capacity and as personal counsel for
Mrs. William ThaW.
Tremendous influence has been
brought to bear upon the district attor-
ney's office, it is said, by friends of
Stanford White to prevent any scan
da1s other than those intimately con-
nected with the tragedy from being re-
vealed at the trial.
Indignant denial was made by Thaw
yesterday of the story that he annoyed
16-year-old Ida Fitch of Williamsburg,
Pa.
From Pittsburg came a letter to Mrs.
Harry K. Thaw from Roger O'Mara,
former chief of police. in which he ex-
pressed his conviction that the "a J
Reynolds" arrested by Miss Fitch's
parents was not Thaw reward Of
$500 was also offered by O'Mara to any
one who could prove that the man who
had pressed his attentions upon the
Fitch girl was Harry Kendall Thaw.
John B. Gleason, Of Thaw's counsel.
and Assistant DistrictAttorneys Smythe
and Johnstone had a long conference
yesterday with Justice MacLean. 1t is
understood the consultation was in
reference to the withdrawal of the ap
pIication asking the justice to prevent
the district attorneys Office from exam
lining witnesses in the Thaw case.
Mrs. Harry Thaw paid her usual visit
to the Tombs.