New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-13
LONDON VIEWS OF TRIAL.
Bauisters' Opinions on Legal Meth
DDS IN ThGtC Case.

London April 12.-Interest in the trial OF Harry
X. Thaw for the murder OF Stanford White which
at first was intense here. Jagged during the latter
stages OF the proceedings but the Unexpectedly pro-
longed deliberations OF the jury and the novelty
for the British public Of the circumstances sur
rounding the final scenes raised curiosity hero 20
a fever point 10 learn what the outcome OF the
strange case would be- Within e few minutes or
the receipt OF the cable dispatch announcing that
the jury had disagreed tho streets OF London. IN
spit. Of the Iateness of the hour. echoed with the
shouts OF the newsboys The newspapers were
bought up eagerly and the people everywhere dis
cussed the likelihood OF a fresh trial.
The chief criticisms heard turned upon the COM
parative leniency Of American opinion regarding
homicide ana what Englishmen consider a lack Of
dignity and method IN the proceedings OF tho
courts. It has been the boast OF EnglIshmen that
hanging invariably followed killing here. but sscrs
tary Gadstone's leniency toward Horace G. Ray
ner. the young man who shot and killed William
Whitley last January. and the unexpected wave Of
sentimentelity which demanded IL led to a discus
sion whether the swift and stern processes OF Brit
ish law VIII in the future frequently bend
before public opinion.
Only two Americans are practising al the British
bar as barristers. IN the Inner Temple where the
British barristers have their Offices, where many
OF them take their meals in and live
Of club life. tho Thaw trial has excited more
interest and discussion than any legal event in
America for many years ana than most important
trials in England. The American barristers have
been called on TO dc much explaining TO their
British brethren OF what appeared 20 the latter 10
be the peculiar methods of American courts.
Newton Crane. who has been a member Of the
Inner Temple for many years. and is president OF
the American Society. said English barristers az
first took keen interest IN the case particularly
to the suggested pleas Of emotional insanity and
the unwritten law but recently had almost given
up the attempt to understand the procedure Of the
court. From start 70 finish this Yves in great con-
trast TO the course followed here. In the first
place. there Was the length OF time between the
arrest and the trial In England in a similar case
for instance. that OF Rayner, for the murder OF
within n month or two OF the crime and would be
forgotten before would be arrHigned in
America. The greatest contrast, however as noted
by English lawyers. was the selectOn OF Jurors,
work which occupied much time IN America
and short n time here. The Englishman could
not conceive Of competent jury being obtained
when each talesman had 70 undergo such an ex-
animation did the American Jurors. In court
procedure, too there were many instances which
aroused the curiosity OF English members OF the
standing aside OF a witness TO allow q document,
on which he 10 be examined, 10 be proved as
done with Mrs. ThaW 20 allow the defence 10
prove Thaw's VIII. Here a judge would take the
the document. ana there would be further inter
ruption OF the witnesses evidence. This and the
fact that a lawyer had 20 introduce much other
wise unnecessary evidence, for In case OF an
appeal was blamed BY English lawyers for the
dragging OF the case, which, they believed in Eng
land, where there was criminal appeal, would
have been finished within a week az the most.
J. Arthur Barratt also has spent many half hours
since the case opened explaining 20 his legal friends
IN the Temple the meaning OF the moves OF the