Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-01-24
EMOTIONAL INSANITY
DEFENSE OF THAW
Slayer of Architect Stanford
White Faces Trial.
THE FAMILY TO WITNESS TRIAL
London and Paris Newspapers Have
Sent Special Correspondents to Wit
ness Proceedings-Great Interest Is
Manifested-PoIice Were Busy.

New York, Jan. 23.-The trial OF
Harry X. Thaw, for killing Stanford
White began Wednesday before Jus
tice Fitzgerald in the criminal branch
Of the supreme court. Two hundred
talesmen have been summoned and
from them a jury is to be selected. 1t
is expected that it will take at least
week to fill the jury box.
The selection of the jury will be
one of the important features of the
case, and during the examination of
the talesmen, it is expected that the
line of defense Will, in a measure,
be indicated.
Criminal lawyers generally have
taken an interest in the case, and it
Is their opinion that the "unwritten
law" and emotional insanity will play
large part in the efforts of Thaw' s
lawyers to obtain freedom for their
client. This being so, it is expected
that Thaws counsel will endeavor to
obtain only such jurymen as would
be Influenced by the pleas indicated.
Thaw is said TO have been studying
up criminal trials during the last
few days. 1t is understoond that he
intends to take a very active part in
the selection of the jury He in
tends to see, 1t is said, that no juror
is selected unless it is with his ap-
proyal.
Thaw will be seated beside his
counsel, at the head of which will
be Mr.. Hartridge Mr.. Delmas,
the Californian. will play an impor-
tant part later in Thaw's defense.
On the Prosecutors side will be Mr..
Jerome and Mr. Garvan will attend
mostly 10 the selection of the jurors.
Mr.. Jerome will cross examine the
defendants witnesses and conduct the
direct examination of the people
witnesses.
OF Thaw's family, there will be in
court his mother, his wife, his two
sisters, Mrs. Carnegie and the Coun-
tess of Yarmouth, and his brother,
Edward. The Thaws will occupy
seats directly behind the defendant.
There will be no room for outsiders
certainly not while the jury is being
selected.
Great preparations have been made
for covering the Thaw trial. A tel
egraph company has strung wires into
the court house and telegraph office
has been erected temporarily on the
main flooor.
Many out-of-toWn newspapers will
have reporters at the trial and even
far away London and aPris have sent
correspondents, so widespread is the
interest in the remarkable tragedy
that saw the death Of Stanford White
at the hands of Harry K. Thaw. the
son of one of Americas rich men.
Scenes approaching absolute dis
order attended the opening of the
trial Most Of the clashes were be-
tween reporters and correspondents,
and the police. Of the newspaper
men, there We're perhaps 200 and
there was policeman for each. The
great squad Of blue-coats was COM
manded by police inspector. Only
about so newspaper writer's finally
were admitted, the raminder Of space
In the court room being reserved for
the zoo talesmen summoned on the
special jury panel.
Deming o. Smith, about SO years
Of age, a retired umbrella manufac-
turer, was accepted and sworn as the
first juror. He was the second tales
man examined.