Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-07
HEREDITARY
INSANITY PLEA.
Thaw's Counsel Outlines Case and
Base Their Defense upon
This Claim.
THE PROSECUTION RESTS
simply Produced Testimony Tint Thnw
shot stanford Whitc--Occupied Only
Two UOurs--rhnw's Wife,
Mother and other Relatives
10 Testify In Iii. Behalf.

New York. Feb. 4--Thc State laid bare
its case aaginst Harry Is. Thav to-day,
bald, Unconditional story Of the shoot
ing on the Madison Square Garden roof,
leaving the motive to be inferred from
the act and the defense replied with a
plea of hereditary insanity, 1t was as
scented that Thaw in Staying Stanford
e ol'"v"l hc was acting as an agent
of Providence. that real or fancied
wrongs committed against him by tho
architect and former friends of his wife.
seethed in his brain until Mt last there
came the explosive impulse to kill.
When the act was accomplished Thaw
made no move to escape ITS conse-
querces. but holding tho fatal revolver
aloft. he stood as il mutely proclaiming
to the world THE deed is done; It was
right; 1t was not wrong"
Thus Thaw's counsel outlined his case
to the jury this afternoon. after the
prosecution had occupied less than two
hours OF the morning sitting of the court
in relating through eye witnesses the
narrative Of the tragedy. When the de-
Tense had interposed its plea and out
llncd it's cage, an Adjournment was
the first witnesses in Thaw's behalf will
he heard.
THAW'S WITNESSES.
You will hear the story Of this man.
insanity" Attorney John X Gleason for
the defense promised the jury from his
mother, from mis- wife, from his relatives
ard from his physicians. You will judge
him by his acts, by the heredity and
stress which entered into his madness and
when you come to Judge him you will say
70 yourself tnat his act may have been
one OF insanity. but It was not one Of
crime
That Thaw's vito was to be one OF his
most important witnesses has long been
known, that his mother. Mrs. William
Thaw, Of PittsburE was TO take the stard
only became known positively to-day
when the court excluded from the court
room all witnesses save experts. Thaw's
mother at the command left tho court af-
ter a moments hesitation. She seemed
unwilling to be parted from her son in
the hour Of his mead. HIS wiro. too
reluctantly loft tho room, bestowing last
radiant smile Of courage and hope upon
her prisoner husband, May Mackenzie
was the third oe the women who have
been daily in tho T'how party to leave the
court room. Thaw seemed detected. Many
times last week during the dull DAYS Of
selecting Jury he turned to hi. wife for
comfort and found her ever ready with n
quick responsive smile. Now that the SER
ious work Of the trial was 70 begin he was
to be denied her presence.
GLEASON'S OPENING ADDRESS.
During the opening address by Mr..
Gleason, in which he entered the de-
fcnse OF insanity. Thaw sat with flush
ed cheeks, which at times he covered
with his hands, and with downca st
| eyes He seldom looked up, Just 4
| fceting glance now and then at the
man who was making the first plea for
hts life ana freedom. Never once did
his eyes wander to the jury box where
! the twelve men, with grave faces, lis
! tened intcntly TO every word of Mr.,
Gleasons somewhat lengthy speech.
/ There was another period--during tho
morning scssion--when Thaw again
| looked only at his hands. clasped before
! him on the table. This was when
Lawrence White. the nineteen year old
! son of stanford White was on tho
! stand as the first witness for the pros
ecution. Young White. who is n Har-
| ward student was not a material wit
ness He was with his father at din
ncr the evening of the tragedy but left
him before he went to Madison Square
| Garden white was alone, It was tes-
tined.. when Thaw approached slowly
from behind. wheeled, raced him and
sent three bullets inta his brain and
| body.
TIIAW'S LOVE STORY,
Thaw's counsel told the story of tn,
prisoners love for the girl he made hi
wife. He met Evelyn Nesbit in 1901 an'
there then began in him an honorable re
enrd ana love for the girl He told he
| mother of that love, Tho girl was in :
precarious condition following a serious
operation IN a sanitarum and Thaw sug
gcsted to her mother that she take Eve
lvn abroad to recuperate. 1t was mr.
ranged that Thaw should accompany tn
two as the avowed sutton of Miss Nosbit
In 1903 he asked her to marry him and sh
refused,
The reason for this refusal you will
hear from her lips" announced Mr., Glea
son. Suffice it to say the reason had t.
do with an incident in her life with refer
ence to Stanford White"
Thus laying the foundation for the pe
OF insanity, the defendants declare
brain disease laid hold of Thaw som
three or four years ago. He said tina
there have been many instances of a per
son being insane upon one subject an
that alone, Mr.. Gleason cited instance
Of temporary insanity evidenced by
single act
NO QUESTION OF INSANITY.
I'VE will not base our plea, however