The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-01-31
THE HARRY
THAW MURDER

and ere it is brought to close
one of the greatest exhibitions of
3egeneracy ever witnessed will
have been staged. Not only is the
accused degenerate of the most
pronounced type, but 80 was his
victim, end each selected degeD-
crates for his associates.
According to Professor Lom-
broso, the eminent alienist, Thaw
came honestly by his degeneracy.
The inordinate greed for wealth
on the part of the elder Thaw SO
blighted his mental and physical
functions that the blight was
transmitted to the son In the form
of mental incapacity. That Harry
Thaw could have been turned
about and fashioned right, there
is not the least doubt; but ex-
cessive wealth proved the stumb-
ling block, and it exercised it's
baneful influence on every member
of the Thaw family.
When wealth came to the Thaws
the husband and father gave way
beneath the strain, the wife and
mother turned to the fashionable
world, the daughters thoughts
turned to titles and the degen-
eracy OF the son was accentuated.
His every wish was gratified.
There was no hand to stay him.
Even the stern majesty of the law
was defeated in it's purpose
to call him to account for many
of his reckless and dare devil in
dulgences by reason of the prestige
great wealth gave the offenders
family. That he "went the lin
it, is not surprising, that he took
into consideration the prestige of
his family ere be commi tied the
deed, there is not the least doubt
and that his hope for freedom is
based upon the purchasing power
of the Thaw millions, his every
action since his incarceration,
plainly reveals.
To read the the life of Stanford
White is simply to read the story
of one who became degenerate
Through choice. Well born, we'll
bred and so highly gifted as to
excite the envy of even the great
est IN the world of science and
art, material wealth was fairly
showered upon Stanford Whi e.
But the manner in which he en-
ployed it revealed that it had
"turned his head" In time the
finely organized portion of his
mentality gave away to the
promptings and indulgenees of his
lower nature, and thus we found
him at the time of the tradedy a
man only in name--one who
had deserted wife, children, home
and kindred for mad revelries by
night in which young girls-the
degenerate daughters of the de-
generate poor-vied with one
another in the exhibition of their
charms for "a piece of Whites
money"
Among the girls who danced
for White and who later-accord-
ing to reports-became his con-
sort, was the woman who is now
the wife of Harry X. Thaw.
That she, too, is degenerate,
there is not the least doubt. But
the broad mantle of Charity should
enfold this poor misguided girl.
A creature Of rapturous beauty
and cultivated graces, she was
forced into threater at tender
age by an ambitious mother who
congratulated herself upon her
wonderful foresight and acumen
when men of Whites stamp sing
led out the girl and sh hNwed favors
upon her
1t was only natural that Harry
X. Thaw became impressed with
the girls beauty; and the story
to the effect that season of reck-
less abandon followed their ac'
quaintance and that marriage was
necessary, is not surprising. And
it was only natural for Thaw tC
guard his wife from the approaches
of White. He knew of their re-
lations in times gone by-kneW
the whole business-and he die
not propose TO allow White to re
call the mast