Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-13
THE TRIAL OF YOUNG ,THAw

81
voting considerable space at present
to the trial of Harry K. ThaW for
the murder of Stanford White, and
it goes without saying that the
general public is watching the pro-
ceedings with a good deal of in
terest. To some it may seem that
too much attention and publicity
are being given to this case, which
undeniably has incidental connec-
lions and features that are far from
moral or elevating. On the other
hand there are weighty considera-
tions that argue for the fullest
publicity of the details of THIS trial,
which in several respects is so un-
usual it is attracting the deep at
tentlon of legal minds in all parts
of the world, or at least in all
civilized nations where the law is
depended on to protect society from
Just such acts as the one committed
by young Thaw. 1t is not parti-
euIarly the crime or the motive that
attrPcts this attention, but the
elaborate plan of defense, which,
backed by almost unlimited wealth.
gives rise to fear in public estima-
ton that the ends of justice may
be thwarted- through sheer
power of money.
The murderous act ofyoung Thaw
is not denied, but the attorneys
employed for his defense, are pre-
pairing to show that he was insane
when the deed was committed, and
therefore irresponsible and not sub
ject to ordinary punishment. To
this end ''expert alIenists" have
been hired and are being held in
readiness to deliver their testimony
when called upon. It is one of the
stumbling blocks of justice in many
criminal cases that the defense can
hide just as many Of these ..alien-
istsp 90 ie needs and has mona5 to
pay. The "alienists" are not al
dishonest and perjured Witnessed
by any means, but in such q case as
that OF young Thaw. it is only
natural that only those wtq keliegd'
or are willing to swear the young
man Is insau6 wills Be retained.
This pIacss the burden siupon the.
state OF counteracting this influence.
in the number IS well as the
character oE witnesses, gs 4
It is evidently the plan of the de-
tense to show that Thaw.is either
mildly insane. or that he was tenn
porarily insane at the particular
moment he fired the fatal shot at
the man whom he suspected of in
&erRering in. his family affairs: Of
course he isn't dangerous, unless he
takes il into his head TO kill some
body. He would recover his reason if
taken care OF, and this care means
his restitution to his family, or
delivery to an asylum where he
would be given the greatest amount
of freedom. AT the end of q few
years the public would have almost
forgotten him and by some legal
hocus-p ocus the affair could be
hushed up. This is where the value
of publicity Of the case comes in.
It Is to circumvent just such unjust
proceedings that the newspapers
will watch the case closely and will
keep the public posted.
Thaw is entitled TO just as much
consideration as any other prisoner
resting under q accusation. Sim
ply because his mother Is ready to |
spend a great deal of money in his |
behalf is no reason why he should |
not be held to full accountability
for the crime charged against him. |
he may Do insane, of course, but a
large majority OF the American peo-
pie think otherwise and apparently
with good reason. While publicity |
should be given this case, yet no
good can come from the work of a |
lot Of sensational writer's especially
20 add horrifying decora-
tons TO legitimate newspaper &C.