The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
THAW TRIAL is ON
The Celebrated Murder Case Be-
gins in Disorder.
Two Hundred Newspaper Men
Try to Secure Places.
ONLY FIFTY ADMITTED
For Every Reporter There MAS
a Policeman Present.
The Public Was Excluded OW-
ing to Lack Of Room.
DEFENDANTS FAMILY.
Wife, Mother, Sisters, Brother
and BrOther-in- Law.
All Are There for the Opening
of Proceedings.
For Every Reporter There Was
Policeman Present.
The Public Was Excluded Ow-
ing to Lack Of Room.
DEFENDANTS FAMILY.
Wife, Mother, Sisters, Brother
and BrOther-in-L Law.
All Are There for the Opening
of Proceedings.

New York, Jan. 23.-Scenes ap-
preaching absolute disorder attended
the opening of the trial of Harry X
Thaw today on the charge of murder
ing Stanford White. Most of the
clashes were between reporters and
correspondents and the police. OF the
newspaper men there were perhaps
200 and there was a policeman for
each. The great squad of bluecoats
was commanded by police inspector
Only about fifty newspaper writers
finally were admitted. the remainder
of the space in the court room being
reserved for the 200 talesmen sum-
moned on the special jury panel
The trial began before Justice Fitz-
gerald in part one. trial term of the
supreme court, and was scheduled for
1890 o'clock. Before that time the
police lines had been extended from
the corridor adjacent to the court
room TO include the entire first floor
of the criminal courts building The
public had been warned in advance
not to attempt to get into the court
room, and few appeared.
The qUarrels with the police which
had flied the hour preceding the trial
were quickly forgotten at 10 o'clock.
when Mrs. William Thaw of Pittsburg,
the mother of the defendant, appeared
in the court room. She was dressed
in her customary black and was veiled.
Following her came the Countess of
Yarmouth and Mrs. George Lauder
Carnegie. her daughters. Mrs. Evelyn
Nesbitt Thaw. wife Of Harry. came
next and was closely followed by May
Mckenzie. the actress. TO whose home
I-~x-A1x 1nd he ,1fc of ho
tragedy a Madison Square roof gar
den. June % last. The party of rela-
tives was completed by Edward Thaw.
Harry's brother. and George Lauder
Carnegie. his brother-in-law.
The Countess of Yarmouth wore a
modest brown cloth gown, brown
fur hat and brown veil. Mrs. Evelyn
Thaw was dressed all in gray with
hat and veil of the same color. The
wells were worn throughout the morn
ing.
District Attorney Jerome appeared
in court at 1920. At this time most
room was crowded. Justice Fitzgerald
took his seat at 1926 O'Clock, and the
trial was on.
A Stir I'm Court.
There was a decided stir in court
when two prominent alienists. Doctors
Carlos Mcdonald and Austin Flynt.
were escorted into court. and given
seats inside the clerks rail where they
consulted with Mr. Jerome These
same doctors represented the district
attorney when the Josephine Ter
ranova trial was stopped in order that
q test might be made of her sanity.
When the roll call of the jury panel
was begun there were several absen-
tees and the court Immediately impos-
ed g fine of 500 on each
Dr. Mabin. a third expert, Joined
Doctors Flint and Mcdonald.
When the roll had been completed
Mr. Jerome moved that the trial pro-
ceed.
Justice Fitzgerald admonished the
throng in the court room that abso-
lutte order be maintained.
Harry K. Thaw, to the bar shout
ed the clerk and there was a hush of
expectancy.
The prisoner appeared almost in
stantly from the jury room. He walk
ed somewhat nervOusly at first but
when he caught sight OF his mother
and wife and the other members of his
family his somewhat solemn face
passed to his seat beside his counsel.
Thaw carried plaid ulster coat on
his arm. 1t was rather chilly in the
court room and he threw the coat
about his shoulders.
without further ado, the task of Sc
lecting a jury was begun.
Charles w. Dryden, an engineer
was the first talesman. In response to
the usual question Dy the district at
torney. he declared he had no con-
scientious scruples against capital
punishment but had formed an un-
usually terrible opinion as to the de-
fendant's guilt or innocence.
Sparring Begins.
Mr. Jerome. after subjecting the
talesman to 2 searching examination.
made his first reference to the "un-
written law"
He said. There is a socalled higher
law. and unwritten law: would you al
low such a law to enter into your judg-
ment?"
Counsel for Thaw objected to the
question.
Justice Fitzgerald said the witness
had already replied that as to points
of law he would be guided by the
court.
When the district attorney asked the
talesman what were his ideas as to the
various forms of insanity as an excuse
for crime. the defense objected
objection overruled," said Justice
fitzgerald
Il would be guided by the instruc-
tions of the court as to that replied
Brv6en.
Clifford W. Hartridge of counsel for
Thaw. after asking the talesman few
questions. challenged him for cause
After further questioning the objec-
hon of the defense was overruled