Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-02-05

luCy III Iuih "SlS SttihSu w ehcb>iSSl.
"Jurors, look upon the defendant |;
defendant, look upon the jurors"
called Clerk Penny, Gentlemen Of
the jury, have you agreed upon YER
dict7"
"We have" said Foreman Grem-
me1s.
MWhat say youq Is the defendant
guilty OF not guilty7s
"Not guilty, on the ground that he
was insane at the time of the COM
mission of the act charged in the in
dictment.
After thanking the jury, Justice
Bowling turned to Thaw and his at.
torneys and said;
"The only testimony In. this case
upon which d verdict Of insanity
could be based was to tho effect that
maniac-depressive form of mental de-
raagement. This testimony and the
diagnosis of. the form of insanity was
based upon prior outbreaks of the de-
fendant as testified to by witnesses
from London, Montreal, Paris and
Albany. 1t also appears from the
testimony, and the court was careful
to inquire as to this,- that occurrences
of these attacks are reasonably cerl
tain. There has been no testimofy
adduced here to show that person.
suffering from this form Of insanity
ever can be premantly cured. 1t
appears, however, that during the
maniacal form of the disease, the per-
son suffering therefrom is likely to
commit dangerous. assaults or mur-
der. There is danger also of suicide.
Dangerous to Public.
"Therefore upon all the testimony.
in this case, the court deems that to
allow the defendant to go at large
would be dangerous to the public
safety. The decision Of the court is
that the defendant shall not now be
discharged, but being in custody, shall
be so held, and committed with all
dispatch to the State hospital for the
criminal insane at Mattawan. The
sheriff of the county is directed to
take custody Of the defendant and
deliver him to the State authorities al
Matteawan.
Mrs. Evelyn Thaw and Joshua
Thaw were the Only members Of the
prisoners family in court when the
verdict was announced. The young
woman thanked individually each
member Of the jury and followed MIR.
Littleton's example in shaking hands
with them. Ali of the defendants
counsel were elated with the verdict.
District Attorney Jerome was almost
as well pleased himself. He has COLI
tended from the first that Thaw was
medically, if not legally insane. Mr..
Jerome, congratulates Mr.. Littleton
and both counsel and jury joined in
congratulating Justice Victor j.,
Bowling, who presided at the trial
with So much satisfaction to both
sides. The iurymen expressed theit
thanks to the Judge for his kindly
interest in all matters affecting their
eotafort.
So far as lies within his power, Dis;
triet Attorney Jerome will resist ally
effort to have Thaw liberated at any
time in the near future. Neither will
he willingly consent tc his transfer
to sanitarium.
a.. Thaw Rebels.
He commanded his attorneys inn
nedintely to sue out writ of habeas
corpus to have his sanity tested be-
fore he was sent away to. the up;
State institution where the ihsahe #
criminal tendencies are conhiea:
Mrs. william Thaw, from her hotel,
where she had received over tho tele-
phone the news of the trials end,
Joined in the demand Of her SON.
Martin W. Littleton, chief council for
the defense. finally prevailed against
the wishes of the mother, indicating
to her that he believed 1t would b1
better for the present to obey the
mandate of the court. g..
Mr.. Littleton informed Thaw, it
was stated, that "there is such a
s,,Ll;a ,o,+;nont in New
York City,"
"But 1 shall not go to Mattea-
wan," Thaw is reported to have re-
peated many times.
"You will have to CO." replied
Mr.. Littleton. Daniel 0'Riely join,
ed in this decision.
Under promise that some action
speedily would be taken looking to
the appointment Of q commission to
inquire into his present sanity OF for
his transfer to a private institution
where his wife and other members of
his family might reside with him,
Thaw consented to go without pro-
test.
nr am perfectly sane now, but I am
going to Matteawan on the advice Of
nv counsel, who thought it unwise to
sue for a writ Of habeas corpus at
Ibis time. Council will proceed in
the matter Of my release just as soon
as they can get together :ht proofs
thev will r,esent that T. am at present
SINE. / am confident that my stay at
Matteawan will be for short period
Of time only
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