The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-02-06
THAW ACQUITTED
At noon TODAY
JURY ExoNERATEs HIM ON THE
GROUND OF INSANITY.
is COMMITTED TO ASYLUM.
Strenuous Efforts Will BE Made To
Secure Freedom - Prisoner
Smiles, While Mother
Faints Over Verdict.

New York, Feb. Harry X. Thaw
was acquitted of the murder Of Stan
ford White by the jury which return
ed shortly after noon today, with a
verdict of acquittal on the grounds
of insanity.
Immediately after the jury return
ed the verdict, Judge Bowling com
mitted the prisoner to the asylum for
the criminal insane at Mattewan, sub
ject to possible recovery. The jury
had been out % hours almost to the
minute. 1t is said they had taken in
the neighborhood of dozen ballots.
At the time the verdict was received,
Mrs. William Thaw was at her no.
tel, where the word was telephoned
to her She tainted.
Verdict Pleases Thaw.
Upon the jury stating that they had
reached verdict, Thaw was told to
rise. When the verdict was read,
Thaw smiled broadly, and resumed
his seat, turning to smile at his wife.
The jury then retired. Jerome and
Littleton each sought to gain the
floor, but Judge Bowling waved them
down and before any argument could
be offered he announced that he
would commit the prisoner to Matte
wan. ...
Taken Back to Tombs.
Thaw was taken back to the Tombs
to await further action of the court
which will be taken next week. In
the meantime Littleton will seek to
have the prisoner committed to some
private sanitarium, and probably will
later ask for an insanity commission
before which he will seek to prove
Thaw's present state is sane.
To Supreme Court.
IL was afterwards also announced
that Thaw's attorneys will apply to
Justice Newburger Of the supreme
court for writ of habeas corpus, di.
rected against Jerome, to compel him
to show cause why Thaw should not
be committed to a private sanitarium
instead of the state asylum at Matte.
wan.
The Jury Returns.
At 11:4O the jury sent for Judge
Bowling, and the prisoner and family
were summoned. A few minutes af
ter twelve the men filed In. When
asked II they had reached verdict
Foreman Greamels replied that they
had. The document was handed to
the court who gave it to Clerk Penny,
who read aloud: Not guilty, on the
grounds of insanity"
Rumors Run Riot.
There was no word from the jury
during the night. The usual crop OF
rumors were afloat but no authentic
statements were made. The jury
went to breakfast about eight O'Clock
at the Knickerbocker Hotel. The men
passed out singly and showed none OF
that friendliness which was so no
ticeable during the trial.
Locked Up For Night.
After waiting for nearly twelve
hours for the jury to report, Justice
Bowling shortly after IL o'clock last
night ordered the doors of the jury
room locked for the night and adj
journed court until 1890 a. m.
The rumor persisted throughout the
evening that the jurors we're hope
lessly divided, eight to four. Mr.. Lit
Teton of the defense expressed the
belief that the majority favored a YER
dict of not guilty on the ground OF
insanity and when he left for his
home was still hopeful that decision
eventually would be reached.
Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw remained
at the criminal courts building wait
ing for the jury to come In, but Mrs.
William Thaw, the mother of the de,
PENDANT. and Mrs. Carnegie, the sis
ter vent home after having listened
to Justice Dowling's charge. A
large crowd remained in the court
house corridors anxious to witness
the closing scenes of the noted trial.