The Washington times., 1908-01-14
Hopes to Prove That He,
Like Nine of Relatives,
Has Insanity
Taint.
Defense Begins Examin-
alton of Witnesses to
Show Prisoner Was
Not Sound.

W. OSNlAlN4s
NEW YORK, Jan 14-To clear Harry
X. Thaw of the charge of murder. Mar
tin w. Littleton will call witnesses 10
prove insanity in the family as follows
On his fathers side:
Youngest sister, suffered with brain
fever similar 20 that which afflicted
Harry Thaw, at age OF five; died in asy-
lum at fifty.
Harriet Alice Ehaw, cousin. insane
and inmate of PittsDurg asylum.
Horace Thaw. cousin. insane.
AGolph ThaW. insane.
Harry Travis Thaw, insane.
William ThaW. cousin. insane.
On mothers side:
Josiah CoDely. suffered from delus-
ions.
Harry w. copely. died as result OF
attack Of brain fever.
Margaret Copeiys son. died insane.
O'Mara Reaches Court.
Roger O'Mara. 3ormer chief Of police
of Pittsburg, who has been in charge Of
the detectives looking up evidence for
the defense. put in an appearance a
the court room just before Justice Dow
ling ascended the bench,
I saw Mrs. William Thaw IN Pitts
burg yesterday" said ne. she is suf-
fcrlng from a complication OF nervous
prostratlOn and rheumatic gOut, but We
hope she VIII be able TO be on hand TO
testify when desired by Mr. LittlCton.
If not, OF course her evidence will have
10 be taken by a commission
There was the same absence Of spec
tators when the proceedings began, only
a Few OF the seats reserved for them
being occupied Thaw looked even more
depressed than usual as he came into
the cOurf carrying the inevitable over.
coat aIl buHdle Of lapers. lie sat
down beside counsel without a word
His wife was early at the court house
but as she is 10 be called as witness
she was not permitted a seat inside the
trial chamber.
Blockade Delays Judge.
Justice Bowling was held uD by a
blockade in the Subway, and It vas
1870 when court convened
DR.. John T. Deemar. the family physl-
clan OF the Thaw family. was the first
witness called by the defense
"Dr. Deemar,'" began LittIeton, what
is your pTOfessiOn?'
a physician at Kittaning, Pa"
How long have you known the de-
fendant?'
Since his birth"
What was his condition as a chiId?"
Every nervous. He suffered with
fever and with St. Vitus' dance"
You knew his mother?
You knew her brother. Henry w.
COpely?"
4 did"
What was his condition."
He was of Unsound mind"
Did YOU know Mrs Washington
| Ross, who was Margaret Copely, a sis
! ter of Mrs. William Thaw?"
4 did"
Did you know her son. John Rose
what was his mental condition."
Jerome Halts Catechisn.
~ object" said Jerome. Il shall not
/ object 10 any evidence as to the i'm
mediate relatives of the accused. hut I
| seriously object to bringing in relatives
/ so far removed as are the Ross family
/ They may all have beer. crazy but this
/ has nothing to do with me character
/ of Thaw blood. The Ross family have
/ no connection with this case So far
/ as this Defendants father and mother
/ and their blood lines are concerned we
may inquire. but we should be limited
/ 10 that line alone. q"
/ Littleton argued that he had the right
/ 20 bring into evidence ali allegations
/ OF insanity affecting even the farthest
[ removed relatives, but Justice Downing
ruled that the question must be prefaced
/ with an inquiry as 20 whether there
/ was insanity in the Ross family.
! The direct examination Of witness
/ ended abruptly.
District Attorney jerome questioned
/ the witness closely as TO the exact men,
tai condition Of Henry Copeley.
His mind was such that he could do
no work." explained the witness.
| whist was his means Of livelihood %
| He liN ID of Mrs. Thaw."
! Witness excused
Dr. William F. Butler, of Roanoke,
! Va, who, as assistant physician of the
/ Virginia Stat' Hospital for the Insane
I at Staunton, Va, was in attendance on
| Horace Thaw, son of the first William
] Thaw. was called to testify as to his
condition while in the asylum.
Littleton Wins Point.
There was much squabbling between
| District Attorney Jerome and Littleton
| as to the witness Testimony and as to
permitting the Introduction of the origi-
| nal commitment of Horace Thaw TO the
| asylum. in which he remained until his
| death in 1893. These documents were
/ finally admitted. They recited that Hor-
ace Thaw was mentally incompetent.
! Butler explained that the superin-
| tendent of the hospital while he was
in the service, is now dead. His duties
admitted to the hospital.
Littleton then offered the record Of
I Horace Thaw's condition while in the
! hospital. hut the district attorney again
/ objected and was sustained. Witness
/ was excused.
LittletOn finally succeeded in getting
/ the fact that the book contained q rec
ord OF the admission of William s Tbayy
to the asylum before the Jury, hut
failed to have the record as a whole ad-
/ aittcd as evidence. Witness was not
| eFOss-eXamined-
Dr. Dcemar recalled, when further
questioned regarding John Ross. said