The Washington herald., 1908-02-02
THAW ACQUITTED AS INSANE.
Jury's Verdict Not Guilty-COurt
Commits Him t0 Matteawan.

Commits Him to Mattenwan
New York. Feb. Harry X. Thaw was
Irquitted of the murder Of Stanford
White on the ground that he was insane
IN the night DE did the shooting
The jury returned its verdict at 1850
o'clock this afternoon. -Four hours later
-haw started on his way TO the asylum
for the criminal insane at Matteawan
having been committed TO that institu-
tion by Justice Dowling Immediately
after the verdict was returned.
lie will stay there until it has been
decided that he Is no longer insane. and
that mis- freedom will not endauger public
safety.
The conclusion of the jury was no
great ss-Hrise 10 those who had followed
the testimony audu,sL at the second trial.
Soon after the jury retired on Friday
afternoon they stood eight for acquittal
on the ground Of insanity and four for
conviction
After considerable argument in which
there was discussion of evidence pro-
duced by the defense and careful scru-
tiny Of the exhibits in the case. two of
the jurors came over % the belief that
Thaw was insane when he Killed the
architect
This was how they stood not long after
midnight on Friday, and before they de-
cided 10 quit arguing for the night and
take little rest.
The jurors went 10 breakfast at the
Hotel Knickerbocker this morning. Tt
wasn't long after they returned before
the ten who were for insanity won over
another OF the objectors to their side.
The eleven concentrated all their efforts
on the twelfth man. Five MINUTES be-
fore the Jurors marched into the court
room he, too. was won over.
At the first trial, after forty-seven
hours OF argument the jury disagreed
standing eight for conviction and four
for acquittaL The second jury was out
about twenty-five hours.
Thnw Opposed TO Commitment.
Whether Thaw was pleased or dis
pleased at the verdict there was practt-
calIy no way Of telling at the time il
was announced in the courtroom. He
stood mp and faced the jurors. The ghost
n smile passed over his face Then he
turned and spoke 10 one Of his LAWYERS.
After being taken from the courtroom.
however, he showed he was violently on
posed To- going TO Matteawan. At first
Inc attempted To argue with his lawyers.
principally Martin ". Littleton. his chief
counsel They would listen to no sug-
sestion from him that an effort be made
70 test the validity Of Justice DowIings
order
It was said that Mrs Mary Copley
Thaw, his mother, felt at first there
should be some attempt made 10 0bstruct
her sons removal to the asylum. She
was convinced by IIuleton that the
proper course was to have Thaw taken To
the asylum for time before his family
took any steps for his liberation.
Both Littleton and District Attorney
Jerome declined 70 make any statements
As 10 how they felt about the verdict.
OF course, Litteton was pleased and
satisfied that the course he had pursued
in the trial had been vindicated
The friends Of Jerome said the verdict
was really a vindcatlon for him. At the
first trial he had announced IN open court
he believed Thaw was insane at the time
Of the shooting before that time. and
after that time, and that if the facts were
known Thaw would not have been on
trial.
Although Jerome had seven experts
testify before the lunacy commission that
Thaw was incurabIy insane. the commits
sion decided ne was able to advise with
his counsel. There was nothing Jerome !
could DO but prosecute him.
Jurors GO To Breakfast.
The jurors were tired and hungry
enough at s o'clock this morning 10 an
Houn"e 10 the court officers they wanted /
breakfast Carriages were sent 10 the
Criminal Courts building, and they We're
taken 10 the Hotel Knickerbocker. where /
they had been locked Up prior to the
time the case was submitted finally 10 /
them
There are no easy chairs and lounges /
ln the jury room. When the jurors saw
Inc soft chairs and couches in their old I
rooms at the Knickerbocker they fell on |
them and took il easy until breakfast
was ready.
Juror Hobert most felt the need of |
chair When he stepped out Of his /
carriage he slipped on the snow and /
sprawled on the pavement
After the jurors returned there were /
he usual rumors as 10 how they stood /
Az that time there were few persons 1
about the courthouse. principally for the /
reason that il was Saturday and no courts .
we're in session. The police showed 1
strong disapproval of any lettering by |
hose who had no business there.
Those who might be expected 20 have
any knowledge Of what was going on in
The jury room expressed belief there
wasn't chance OF the jury agreeing
The principal gossip on how the iurv
stood had Il 70 for acquittaI. the three
who were holding out having. according
TO the report announced firm intention
not 70 yield to arguments of the others.
That was the situation when there came
tap on the door of the jury room just
about the time everybody was expecting
he jury 10 90 to luncheon. Capt. Lynch, 1