The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-04-12
FINAL PLEA TO JURY
Attorney Delmas Concludes His
Argument in Thaw Case.
INSANE AT 1IME OF KILLING
Closing Words Of Defendants Counsel
an Almost Direct Appeal to the Un-
written Law, Recognized by Courts
All Over the Union.

New York, April I'D. M. Delmas,
Harry K Thaw's leading counsel, has
concluded his address to the jury. He
began Immediately after court con-
vened at 1890 o'clock and spoke con-
tinuously until 1890 p. M, when he
asked for a recess, completing his ad-
dress late in the afternoon.
His entipe time the second day of
his argument was devoted to analyz-
ing Harry Thaw's mental condition
and the progression of his feelings
against White as shown by the testf-
mony of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw and
Mrs. William Thaw. He declared
Thaw undoubtedly was insane on the
subject of Stanford White.
Mr.. Delmas detailed at length the
effect Of Evelyn Nesbit's story On
Thaw's mind, reading extracts from
the evidence of Thaw's wife and that
of his mother and commenting on it
as he proceeded. He declared that
with Evelyn's story working in his
mind Thhw could think of nothing
else. Her story haunted him always
fulfill. Mr.. Delmas again bitterly de-
nounced Stanford White and declared
that "Thaw had snatched the girl
from the old lecher who saw in her
but a toy to crafty a moments lust
and then be cast aside to go her way
down the paths Of fallen women" He
called the jury's attention to the fact
that as late as May, 1906, Stanford
White had told May Mackenzie he
would yet get Evelyn back. He pic
tured Thaw's excitement on hearing
this and said it was cause for the
young husband to lose his reason.
In concluding his remarks on the
mental condition of the defendant at
the time of the shooting of Stanford
White Mr.. Delmas said:
Direct Appeal to Jurors.
"The man who had brooded on this
subject for three years, who had pic
lures of dreadful horrors haunting
him by day and in the stiffness of the
night could not be human to retain
the caimness of his reason. Gentle
men, place yourselves in his place;
picture to yourselves the horrors he
went through and do justice to Harry
Thaw."
Mr.. Delmas then described the
events of the night Of June rs, when
Stanford White was killed, and in
proof of his contention that Thaw was
insane reviewed exhaustively the tes-
timony adduced on this subject. Re-
ferring to Thaw's actions Immediately
following the shooting he said:
"Thaw stood as a priest might have
stood after some ceremony of sacri-
fetal offering, saying All is over and
Diminishing the congregation. He
turned his pistol barrel down to indi-
cate TO the audience that there was no
danger to them"
Mr.. Delmas' closing was an almost
direct appeal to the unwritten law.
He referred to it as the species of in.
sanity which made the American man
believe his home and the honor of his
wife and daughters to be sacred
that species of insanity which had
been recognized by courts in every
state Of the Union.
Mr.. Delmas was interrupted in his
closing by an objection by Assistant
District Attorney Garvan. His plea
was in, however. He said he left
Thaw's fate in the hands of the jurors,
with every confidence that he would
be acquitted, under that golden Law
the Oldest law of all-the foundation
of all laws-"do unto others as you
-.a..ld ha.zo 4haaa Or unto 11oll .