The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-01-24
TRIAL OF HARRY THAW
 IS AT LAST UNDER WAY
Continued from First Page.

turn if he would be influenced by any so-called higher unwritten law to the exclusion of the actual laws of the state as they would be laid down by Justice Fitzgerald, There was none to say he would not accept the courts ruling as to all questions of law, whether they agreed with the law or not,
 On the question of insanity as an excuse for crime, MT. Jerome explained to each talesman that the law excused only those persons who were laboring under such defective reason as not to know the nature or the quality of the act committed, or even to know that he was acting wrong.
 That is the law declared MT. Jerome, Now would you import into your conclusion any imaginary form of insanity you might have in mind or that might be suggested to you, to the exclusion of the law as it was laid down to you by the court?'
 Again the talesman said in turn that they would be guided solely by the court
 Thaw's counsel entered objections only to certain forms of questions pro- pounded by MT. Jerome along this line. They declared they had no objection to the questions in principe
 The usual percentage of talesmen, who declare their conscientious scru- pies against capital punishment are so strong as to preclude the possibility of rendering a fair verdict was missing to-day On the other hand, however, every talesman examined said he had formed or expressed an opinion on the case. All admitted, however, that their opinions were based on newspaper re- ports, and these had been so conflict ing from time to time as to make their opinions susceptible of change by the actual evidence.
 The talesmen were asked if they knew Thaws friends or Whites, or anyone else connected with the case. They were asked if they were on the Madison Square roof garden the night of the tragedy, if they had friends in Pittsburg, or if their sympathy and emotions would affect their fair-mlnded judgment The examinations by Dis trict Attorney Jerome and by Thaws counsel varied but little on essential points. The presence of three noted alienists in the court room, as pros pective witnesses for the prosecution created seme interest
 Thaw sat during the day at the table set apart for his counsel At times he seemed to take lively interest in the examination of the men summoned to decide his fate, leaning well forward, and holding his hand to his ear to catch every word that might fall from the lips of the talesmen. Again he woud seem listless, and his eyes, deep set and having something of stare, roved about the court room. His face was pallid, doubtless due to his seven months confinement in the Tombs Thaw is fully six feet in height, and is quite thin. He wore a dark blue sack suit, and had always with him a plaid ulster coat.
 Just behind the prisoner sat the sev- eral members of his family, gathered here for the trial. They had arrived before the prisoner was summoned for the morning session, and greeted him with a smile as he strode past on the way to his seat. With his eyes resolutely to the front, Thaw did not see his mother or his wife until he was almost upon them. Then his sober face broke into quick smile, and he bowed graciously.
 Mrs William Thaw, the prisoner's s mother, was the. first of the family to arrive. She was dressed plainly in black, and were a heavy black veil, her white hair showing in striking con- trast against the somber costume, She sat with her eyes fixed upon her son, and spoke but seldom to her children about her. During the long and some what tedious afternoon she threw back the veil, better to see and study the faces of the prospective jurors, as they were called to the stand
 The countess of Yarmouth, who was Miss Alice Thaw, followed her mother. Her gown was of brown, cut with coat effect. The brown hat was of fur, and @ heavy brown veil covered her face. But the countess, too, before she hal