New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-24
SANE" SAYS MOTHER.
DEFENDS THAW FAMILY.
In AfdaUit Denies Hereditary Taint
Counsel and Erperts Agree.

The defence IN the Thaw case took deter
mined stand yesterday against the desire OF Dis
tFict Attorney Jerome 20 have Justice FitzGerald
appoint q commission IN lunacy when the an
Ewering afidayits were fled with the Clerk OF
the Supreme Court. These afldavits. twelve IN
number. contain several important points on
various criminal phases OF the trial ana on the
subject os insanity.
They are said 20 be an unusually strong ar
s. 8. OF documents controverting the contentious
q. the District Attorney that Thaw is at pres
sert mentally irresponsible and some gamblers
were giving odds yesterday THAI Justice Fitz-
Gerald would refuse commission. The object
ct nling the ahldavits was 70 allow the court 20
Examine them at its leisure. There will be a
brief court session tomorrow morning when,
Il Justice FITZGERALD desires. he viii ask for
further documentary proof. or possibly testi-
mony on tho subject OF the commission. II is
probable that he VIII not announce his decision
before wednesday.
The most importan. Of the afldavits IS that
OF Mrs william Thaw. the mother Of the de-
fendant Mrs. Thaw denied emphatically that
there was an hereditary taint OF insanity or ep-
ispBy n the family. Counsel would not allow
her TO tell OF this IN court. Next in Importance
"a an efhdavit by DR.. George Franklin Shiels.
Alienist, who examined Thaw a few days ago
and pronounced him sane. Four Of the alienists
Cor the defence also swore 10 afidavits declaring
Ihaw sane. Various conversations with Thaw
which had not been made public were included,
and in the afidsvit OF Dr. Wagner a conversa-
ton was related with Thaw in which the de-
Sendant told Of how no came to shoot White
He said he was leaving the theatre when there
was loud noise on the stage. and. turning. he
saw White. He had not seen him before that
esns, he said.
All OF the counsel IN the case gave affidavits
and Henry Clay McPike. partner Of Mr.. Demas.
put himself in the same category by also fling
an affdavit. Mr.. Delmas with his ahdavit
nled several letters and notes he had received
from Thaw, which IN themselves appear TO
show perfectly rational mind.
MRS WILLIAM THAw's AFFIDAVIT.
The afidavit Of Mrs. William Thaw. complete,
iB as follows
Mary copley Thaw. being duly sworn deposes
and says:
tlhe move hy the prosecution for an inquiry into
son HsT1 6 S6 nI5s S9SSy GO, commission M, & for my
SPpoftgnliy OF giving all the facts in relation 10
stripped Of oil verbiage. which malicious misrepre-
ssntstion and gross eEsggeraton have thrown
,FiTst wish to emPhaticaIy state that in the
lIIect line or descent for four generations. n we
include that Of the defendant himself. there is no
sssce of either epilepsy or insanity shall speak
rJohn Thaw the paternsl grandfather OF Harry
= Ihnw. who IN 1893 esta blished the first reg
GaFiy organized banking house in the city OF Pitts
1lIg, with which bank he was actively connected
ti9hty-dve years Of age. He was Of such
oeiermined will and force OF character uD- ia
week before his death ne would have been equal
70 have conducted a meeting of bank directors
fage for bodily infOTmites
William ThhW. father OG The defendant, was ono
q eleven children. Two sons and five daughters OF
tns large family grew 20 manhood and womanhOod
some living advanced age, all nheriting q
nlaaEure OF ndomfable strength Of character
o their father The yongest OF this large family
of children, al fhe age or seven years. after q Sc.
. epilepfic attacks and these attacks continued
az Intervals until her death, at the age Of sixty
years The children and grandchildren OF Mrs
nersh are absolutely free from any suggestion o
he result Of scarlet fever acting the susceptbI,
pI6m q young child. This is the only case o
hnown epilepsy or insanity In this line Of tht
Josiah Copiey grandfather Of the defendant he
came part owner and editor Of The kittanning Ca
zetie' IN the early part OF the last century whef
put tWenty-hve years old. From that time unit
NE sno OF q life Of fOurscore, he ed
loF and writer. His editorial work in oonnec
uQn with The Plttsburg Gazette" during man,
NlfteTn: other literary work he carried In IN,
sytntfy IN the summer MS iran health makinl
le change imperative. he continued writing 10
The Pittsburg Gazette and other periodicals unit
.s.thin three months OF his death. at the age O
sEafy-thres years.
tne ths grandmother the paternal side we're be
loved and revore6 their excellent. well balance,
Qualities oR head and heart. Each lived 10 four
sore and were IN full possession OF their facultie
The family records on both sides for two mon
Continued on twelfth page.