Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
COST OF THE TRIALS
GREATEST SUM EVER SPENT IN
A NEW YORK MURDER TRIAL.

Special DlSpAtcn 10 SLdi.
NEW YORK. February 1.-The two
Thaw trials have cost to date approx
mately 81 600, O00-the greatest sum ever
spent In the criminal courts OF New York
in a fight for the life or death OF one &C
cused Of murder.
The burden Of the cost has fallen on the
prisoners family. who expended more
than 100000 at the first hearing and
1916, 600 In the great legal battle just
drawing to a close.
Thaw's lawyers alone will receive 1925.
600. OF this sum Martin w. Littleton re-
ceives a fee OF 100000: A. Russell Pea
body, $4,000. and Daniel O'Reuly, $4,000
Forty-fiye witnesses will receive $4,000
for loss of time; three alienists are to get
s., 600 for thirty days attendance at the
sessions, while witnesses who have been
brought from Europe and different parts
of America will have to be paid more than
81, 600 for travelling expenses and fees.
In addition to this sum, Roger OMara,
the Pittsburg detective. has handed In a
bill for $4,000 for services covering a
period of two years.
State Gets Off Easy.
The full total of $4,000 estimated by
the lawyers will undoubtedly grow to
greater proportions when bills for smaller
things are presented to the prisoner s
mother.
The reason for the decrease in the cost
of the second trial lies in the fact that
the hearing was rushed through in six
teen actual trial days, while In the first
1t dragged over a period of three months.
The expense of the district attorney
will be less than $4,000. He had very
few witnesses at the second trial, and
it was rushed through SO quickly he will
fourth of what they received previously.
The cost of lodging and feeding the
jury at the Knickerbocker Hotel has
been close on to $4,000, which Is more
than last year. With Judge bowling. $
salary, the salaries of twenty-four court
officers the district attorney and his as
sistants, the total is found.
The trial this year began on January
6 The following week-seven days later,
to be exact--the opening address was
made to the jurymen, and the case placed
in their hands for consideration Friday,
January 81. at 1875 am.
Tt was June Is, 1906, that Thaw killed
White
He was arraigned before Justice F1tz-
gerald in court Of general sessions jan
uary %. 1907, and the drawing OF the
In the latter part of April the jurors
reported that they could not agree and
were discharged.
Thaw Through British Eyes.
snccial Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, February 1.-The Thaw case.
which a year ago commanded public at
tention here almost to the same extent
that it did in America, has excited little
interest during the trial which has just
concluded
English opinion last year would un.
doubtedly have favored conviction OF
Thaw and the infliction OF capital pun
ishment Now 1t will not disapprove
the verdict of acquittal on the ground
nf insanity except that 1t will insist on
Thaw's confinement for life IN an asylum
for the criminal insane.
Similar cases here are never affected
nv a better later mental condition OF the
accused person For instance. Richard
Miller Arthur, alias Prince. an actor IN
the Gaiety Theater. who murdered Actor
William Terriss at the stage door OF the
AdaIpm Theater December II, 1897, and
who was acquitted of the charge OF muir
dar On the ground Of insanity. Is still con.
fined ct Broadmoor lat his majesty 8
nIea sure and there he will remain for a
long time to come. despite the fact that
he Is sane according to all ordinary stand
ards. The British public Will await the
actual disposition of Thaw with great
curiosity.