Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-16

New York. Jan. 15.--Adhering strict
ly to their promise to interpcse no 9TH
er defence than that Of insanity in be-
half Of their client the attorneys rep
resentirg Harry X. Thaw at his trial
today continued the examination Of
witnesses who swore that young Thau
at various times in his life appeared
to them as irrational and mentally I'M
sound. Practically all Of the testimO-
ny was entirely new to the case and
had to do with acts down to the day
of the tragedy itself. Then came the
declaration Of 10 Of the men who sat
OH the coroner's jury during the in
quiry irto Stanford Whites death. all
of whom declared that the defendant
the day following the shooting acted
ire tionally. His state Of mind after
their formal verdict had been rendered.
In the days testimony there was
more delving into the history Of the
Thaw family, Alfred Lee Thaw Of
Richmond, Va, a third cousin of the
defendant, taking the stand this after
noon and telling of the faint of insan-
iIy which had caused his father and
brother to die in insane asylums. Of
Thaw's alleged eccentricities, revealed
for the first time, were related today
by Christopher Baggan, steward of the
New York Whist Club; by Miss Ma
tilda Stein, telephone operator. and
by Per August Weber, a former but
Ter in the Thaw household. The but
Ter told many details of Thaw's home
i'll 1903 and was still under examina-
,lro,
The separate incidents of alleged ir-
rational conduct on the part of the de-
PENDANT was being put in evidence by
Mr.. Littleton as the foundation of the
expert testimony that is to come. He
also hopes to accumulate such a mass
of testimony as to Thaw's condition as
to make it impossible for the district
attorney to fulfil the task it places on
him Of proving Thaw sane beyond ev-
cry reasonable doubt"
Criminal lawyers of prominence who
are following the case outlined by the
defence, and who are taking into con-
sideration the fact that specific plea
of insanity has been entered this year,
declare that acquittal under the cir
cumstances can come only with the ad-
ded clause ION account of the insanity
of the defendant at the time the act
was committed. This. it is declared,
will compel the presiding judge to COM
nit Thaw to Matteawan asylum. from
whence a fight to prove his present
sanity and thus gain freedom would
have to be conducted through habeas
corpus proceedings.
D, IIn ING 4
Wood of Philadelphia was called to
the stand as the first witness in the
Thaw case today. DR.. Wood some years
ago made an examination Of Harriet
Alice Thaw, a relative of the defend
ant. District Attorney Jerome objected
to the physicians testimony, but was
overruled by the court. as the relation
Of attending physician and patient did
not exist in this case.
Or. Wood said that Miss Thaw was
of unsound mind.
The next witness told Of new recent
eccentricities of Thaw Just before the
killing of Stanford White. He was
Christopher Raggan, a steward Of the
New York Whist Club. Thaw was in
the club on June TO- 1906. just five
He was highly nervous and although
the day was hot, Thaw insisted on TAX
ing a screen with him wherever he
went about the rooms.
He was highly nervous. excitable and
irritable, and once as he passed the
witness was muttering: This is aw-
full" Baggan said Thaw finally came
ND to him and asked him to have a
package put in the safe.
what was in the PACKAGE asked
asked Mr.. Littleton.
"Three cigarettes wrapped in tin
foil"
Thaw's eyes. the witness said, had a
peculiar stare. A telephone message
came for him, and when the witness
touched him to attract his attention
Thaw trembled all over. When in the
city. Thaw was in the club rooms near
ly every day.
Did Thaw impress you as rational
or irrational?" Irrational"
On cross-examination, Baggan said
he had known Thaw for II years
| Thaw was in the club playing bridge
| whist the day of the tragedy. Asked
who else was there. the witness said
CAPTAIN Walker. John A. Drake and
John b. Gleason, one of the counsel
| to Thsw at the first trial. At other
times, he said, Mr.. Gates and 'Mr
| Schwab" were present.
| "But they always appeared calm
didn't they?" asked Mr.. Jerome
| Yes
and Thaw was nervous?" Yes"
"And they were playing for money!
az don't know"
Haven't you any idea?' mo, sir
I'm not supposed to have any"
II know you are not supposed to have
any. but as matter of fact, haven't
you?' 1.-THE rules forbid playing fol
money, SIR
| The court officers had to suppress
| frequent outbursts of laughter.
Ibid Thaw and his party have any
thing to drink on June 25?" "Oh, yes
eli oI1 cnrfc nf y,,i,,oro1