The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-24
THAW SURROUNDED BY
ANXIOUS RELATIVES
Slayer of Stanford White Listens to Eek.
animation of Jurors Who VIII
Try Him for His Life.
Three AensS in Court Watching the Prisoner-Grea Crowd
of the Curious on Hand

New York. Jan. 23.-The long awaited
trial. Of Harry X. Thaw for the murder
~ stanford White began here today be-
fore Justice Fitzgerald. Two jurors
we're secured as a result Of the days
work out Of the 200 talesmen nine
teen were examined. Three successfully
rassed the rapid-fire questions of the
appoging counsel, but one was after
ward excused by the court after MAX
ing some private representations con-
corning his business.
At 1890 O'Clock tomorrow morning
the court will resume the work of
choosing a jury which shall pass on the
Justice OF Thaw's claim that he had a
right TO shoot the man who had ruined
bis wife.
Nearly all the talesmen examined
seemed anxious to serve. and the chal-
lenges were in nearly every instance
~ a peremptory character. nearly
evenly divided between the prosecution
and the defense.
Defense Made No Sign.
The examination of the first taIesman
was followed with the keenest interest.
as It was thought the line of question
ing BY the attorneys for Thaw would
develop tho character of the defense
hey are 70 set up. There was disaD-
pointment I'm this respect. The defend
ants counsel seemed willing TO accept
any proposed juror who satisfactorily
answered the questions put by Districz
Attorney Jerome, who personally con-
ducted the examination. The defense
reremDtorily challenged two talesmer.
however. who gave their business as
architects.
Mr.. Jerome asked each talesman in
turn II he would be influenced by The
so-called higher or unwritten law to
the exclusion OF the actual laws OF the
state as they would be laid down by
Justice Fitzgerald. There was none 10
say he would not accept the courts
ruling on all questions Of law
Jerome Explains Insanity.
on the question of insanity as an ex-
cuse for crime. Mr.. Jerome -expiained
10 each talesman that The law excused
Only those persons who were laborine
under such a defective reason as not to
know the nature or the quality Of the
act committed or even to know the act
was wrong.
Some Questions Asked.
The talesmen said that in this. too.
they would be guided solely by the
courts order.
The usual percentage OF talesmen
who declare their conscientious scruples
against capital punishment was miss
ing today ON the other hand. every
talesman examined said he had formed
OF expressed an opinion in the case. All
admitted. however, that their opinions
we're based on newspaper reports, and
these had been SO conflicting from time
20 time as 10 make their opinions sus-
Tlnffh1n oF OH h.
The taleSmen were asked If they
knew Thaw's friends or Whites. or any
one connected with the case. They
were asked whether thoy were on the
MADISON Square roof garden the night
of the tragedy; II they had friends in
Pittsburg. or IL their sympathy or emo
IONS would affect their fair-minded
Judgment
The presence OF three noted alienists
ln the court room as prospective wit
hesses for the prosecution created some
comment
, Thaw sat during the day at tho table
fet apart for his counsel At times he
seemed TO take a lively interest in the
examination Of the men summoned to
decide his fate
Again he would seem listiess. and his
eyes, deep set and having something Of
stare. rcved about the court room
rs face was pallid. doubtless due TO
~ DIS seven months confinement in the
Prisoner Greeted With Smiles.
Just behind the prisoner sat he sew
elai members OF the family. They greet
~ the prisoner with smile as he
ERODE past on the way 10 his seat.
--aN bowed TO them graciously.