The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-15
SOMEBODY'S FIXED, SAID
PFAFF;; JURORS NEARLY FIGHT
Steele With Whom Pfaf Had the Dispute Doesn't
Think it Was Meant Seriously Ridiculous
Others Say, Of Insnuation of Bribery

i6BE oLllSlo ~oLy, W - -
NEW York. April ll.--'rhcre is n
strong inclination on the part of the
Il jurors who served in the Thaw trial
to smother the scandal that has coMe
& out OF the yelled insinuation of bribery
which was made during their delibera-
lions. Juror George Pfnff. they all adj
nit, is the man who made the charge,
but in the light OF sober, second
thought. there are few jurors who be-
licve that he made 1t seriously.
Pfarf's insinuation was made during
n heated argument with Juror w. L..
steele. The jury Ind found itself hope
lessly divided on the question OF the
prisoners guilt, and Pfaff, who was
worked UP to high pitch of excite
ment. declared in a challenging tone
that he had strong suspicion as TO
why certain of the Jurors favored &C
uuiltal That was the substance of his
charge and he did not attempt to go
any further He refused. however. to
retract his statement when pressed by
steele and tho other Jurors
While Pfafi's remarks caused Intense
bitterness among the Jurors at tho
time. the jurors take the ground that
ptaff's accusation was on the face OF It,
absurd and therefore, ought not to be
given consideration
Juror steele said yesterday that
while Pfaff had undoubtedly intended
to convey the impression that some OF
the jurors had been influenced ne uia
not actually mention anything ABOUT
bribery.
Thinks Pfaff Tried to Be Smart.
II do not hold any hard feelings 20
ward Mr.. Pfaff,'' said Juror Steele, be
cause ! think he was only trying 10 pc
smart. He had an idea that all the other
Jurors ought to come around to ms way
of thinking. lie had firmly made up his
mind to vote for first degree murder
when we started in, and he openly de-
clared that nothing would change his
opinion.
"of course, he was entitled to his own
Ideas, but it seemed to me that ne
&o-,r'f Cd tnyn en- open to argument
snsr as the regt + us were Instead of
slgtepIf,, 10 t1e guments of the Jurors
-s,in ygsrn Tor acc iittal. he snccred at us
lsgJ Es3h<5 to irait out that we had been
i5tfssgsrts.f.d ia itei up this insinuating air
Y1r gGfera tlt.le 1t looks mighty queer
n, ma EE- way a " fellows are acting,
.g3s Ms fHfRt Sjt We didn't say any
NHin., a. t5HUt E. sllse we thought he was
ealns.
IFS pRSs petn insinuation was made
az the aTd i the fifth ballot, on Thurs
SAY I he'd Iiy5f liking some time with
ltir0E IyeUee, VII had voted with tho
3tlroy1 svorrAt ~ degree murder Do
nee sala Bie ShS, considered Thnw sane
ii t3Ie tiia5 tI killing, but he was
wiling TO ch&nA is pinion IL I could
SION i3i3N ang eviN zee that the man wss
5nEare. WR got a ID Of Thaw'S letters
$50 htH SFife and GAHr letters, which ran
gfi1 r Rambling WA and Denee studied
I thcsi Gaiefuiiy fer Itrer an hour.
sWiffSe p2Gep I'd r. reading them. Pfaff
and s7j no Of the oHt rs on his side looked
ogtr "a .aered EiHl. Dcnce paid no at
4trltsoa ~ thnnN Finally he arose and
1Rtde q nogntiaAtt speech. He said he
Wi FioE EonFinee& hat Thaw was in
sane HHa tAat h1 tgnnld vote for his ac-
#qaG Xxx Y5ee -anblcd with emotion
aHa as3H tea NE dhGply. Pfan, who was
WILL EAs me @s at, burtcd out: T
E1esf kpW ally are weeping T.
left tAas. tfiANi;igt it best not to make
ai5 f+e
& rest of US who
VIZ teIt t discussing the
eg 5fH ked: Well all L
$50 ~ tnat this thing looks mighty
{ suspicious That was too much for me.
told MIN that If he had any idea that
any one was brihcd he ought to come
out with it. He then said: oh, 1t looks
as though somebody's fixed / was
mad clear through. 1 clinthed my fist
and made for him, but some of the
jurors jumped in between us.
That night, at the Broadway Cen trail
Hotel, during our lunch hour, l was in
juror Brearleg's room, talking over
Pfaff's insinuations, when Pfaff walked
in. He came uD and said something
about an apology. l turned around and
said: L don't want an apology from
such contemplate cur as YOU
Pfaff. his face highly flushed turned
on his heel and walked out,
IF tNad any idea that Pfaff meant
what, he. said,.I would certainly go to
the district. attorney and demand an
investigation. Bnt / am satisfied that
lie was only talking to win us over to
his side. 1t was a poor way to argue,
but guess that's his style. 1 shook
we didn't have anything to say to eacl,
other"
Steele said that The Jurors who
favored acquittal were thoroughly con
WINGED that Thaw was crazy at the
time of the shooting That WAS tho
only point discussed in the jury-room
he said; the seven who were for con-
Niction considered that Thaw was
never out OF his head
1.-TWO OF the jurors who held out for
he:first degree verdict. told me TO da,
was in his right mind when he sho
White said Steele. but they believed
he knew he did wrong in shooting him
If they thought that way it was ,hei
E duty, take it, TO give Thaw the ben
Gift O! the DOUBT and vote for acGuittsl
] do not think there are twelve mel
in the country who would vote 70
Tha.w's conviction under the circuni
stances ! firmly believe that tn
next trial Will result as this one did.
Steele I" Cried Like . Baby"
Juror Henry c. Harvey. another o
the jurors favoring ncquittal, said III
did not intend to worry himself abou
Pfaff's insinuatlon.
II told Steele that the man was onl,
excited and worn out by the strain o
the trial" said Harvey. steele cam
into my room after the episode ut tn
broadway Central Hotel and said h
had never had such charge mad
against him He cried like baby.
49, l.