Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-04
State Ends Case in a
Remarkably Short
Time.
FEW WITNESSES HEARD
Defense Sets Up Claim Of
Hereditary Insanity in
Opening Statement.

New York, Feb. 4.-There WAS delay
in resuming the trial of Harry X.
Thaw today owing to formalities at
tending the postponing of the Febru-
AIRY term of court, which was scheduled
to begin this morning. When this was
accomplished, and Justice Fitzgerald
had taken the bench, there at once be
gan a conference Of attorneys at the
judges desk
Thaw Flushed.
Thaw appeared a trifle flushed as he
took his seat alongside his counsel.
Back of him sat his mother, sister, Mrs.
Carnegie, Evelyn Nes5it, Miss McKeu-
Ze. Edward and Joseph Thaw. the
only family absentee being the COuu-
tess of Yarmouth. All witnesses for
the prosecution were in court this
morning. They were the only eye
witnesses of the tragedy on the Madi-
son Square roof garden. Some VII
nesses said TO have been summoned
by the defense were also in court, al
though most of those who are to ap-
pear for Thaw have not appeared.
Jcrome's Plea Vain.
Whatever pressure the district at
torney brought to bear on Thaw's at
tOrneys for the release of additional
jurors, it was in vain. At the end of
the last conference on the subject, held
at the Justices desk, Assistant AttOr-
ney Garven arose quietly and in yer
low tone began the opening address
for the prosecution and the actual
hearing of the famous case was on.
Outlines Purpose of Law.
Garven congratulated the jurors on
their wait having been ended, and then
outlined the purpose of the law. which
was not seeking for vengeance. but tC
uphold the security of the state. II.
urged the importance of the case an,
the strict observance of law.
Crime Prcmeditnted.
1t was the claim of the people. b,
said, that on the night of June ,, 1906
the defendant shot and killed witt
premeditation and intent to kill'' on,
Stanford White. He then briefly out
lined the movements Of White, begin
ming with the Saturday preceding th'
tragedy and ending with the actua
scene Of the shooting at the Madison
Square roof garden
Tells story of Crime.
Garven told how Stanford White haC
on the 25th of June last. taken his son
Lawrence and a schoomate of the lat
ter to dinner at the Cafe Martin. TIL,
boys had bought tickets to the New
York theater roof garden, and decline,
the invitation of Colonel White to &C
company him to the roof garden.
White Sat Alone.
White" said Garven. went L
Madison Square roof garden and sd
alone at one of the small tables, ther
watching the first production of tn
play. Defendant was there with hi
wife and two friends, T. Beal and Tho
mas McCalms.
Defendant walked constantly abou
the place. In the middle of the secon
act defendant and party started t
leave the roof Defendant let his pa
y 50 dhCdu anu ne ldSStu Dcuillu.
Shot Deliberately.
Passing the table where White wa
sitting. defendant wheeled suddenl.
faced White and deliberately shot hiI
through the brain. the bullet enterin
the eye. White was dead. but the d,
fendant did not know this. He feare
he had not completed his work an
fired again. the bullet penetratin
Whites cheek. Still to make sure, h
fired third time. White, or rattle
the body of White. tumbled to the foo
Held Revolver Alon.
Defendant turned. facing the aud
cnce. and held his revolver aloft wit
the barrel upside down to indicate /
had completed what he intended to d
The big audience understood. Thel
was no panic"
Garven concluded by giving detail
of Thaw's arrest and Indictment by Il
prosecution. Garven spoke less thu
10 minutes. always in a conversation
tone. Thaw sat with his head dow
cast and face flushed.
shows Defcnsc's Hand.
AS Garven took his seat Jeron
sprung surprise by asking the cou
to exclude all witnesses in the ca
except the experts. By doing this j
ONE at one blow disclosed the ia
that Mrs William Thaw and Mrs. II;