The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-02-06
Thaw's Chances To Go Free.

New York Especially. - Adjudged
not guilty of the murder of Stanford
White, by reason of insanity at the
time the fatal shots we're fired, Harry
Kendall Thaw was held by the court
to be a dangerous lunatic and was
whirled away to the state hospital for
the criminal insane at Mattea wan. 1t
was a quick transition from the dinsy
little cell in the Tombs, which had
heen the young mans home for more
than Is months, to the white belded
wards of the big asylum, tucked away
on the snow-covered sloping banks of
the Hudson River, so miles above the
city. The verdict came after 25
hours of waiting and when everyone
connected with the case had abandon
ed all hope of an agreement ever be-
ing reached in this or any other trial
Four hours after the foreman's lips
had framed the words Not guilty"
with the accompanying insanity clause
Thaw. protesting he was sane, was on
his way to Matteawan. A little after
nightfall he had been received in the
institution under commitment papers
which directed his detention Until
discharged by due course of law"
No more unwilling patient ever
made journey to a state institution.
Thaw's train on its way to Fishkill
Landing, where a carriage was taken
to Matteawan, passed beneath the
very walls OF the grim Sing Sing, but
at no time since his arrest on the
night of June 25, 1906, has the young
Pittsburg millionaire ever held the
thought that he would see the inside
of that famous prison. and he needed
1t not
The first thrill of the words OF
acquittal brought Thaw 10 his feet
in the court room, and with lack of
grace of action, which always has
characterized his movements, he awk-
wardly, almost haughtlly. bowed his
acknowledgements to the . jurymen
as they were discharged by the court.
smile played about his pallid feat
ures, and there was every reason to
lelieve that he was entirely pleased
with the outcome.
1t was after he had heard the
words of Justice Bowling committing
him to Matteawan on the ground that
his release. In the opinion OF the
court would endanger the public
safety, and after the elation OF tie
verdict had died away Thaw rebelled.
He demanded his attorneys immeli-
ately to sue out a writ of haheas cor
pus TO have his sanity tested before
he was sent away 10 the upstate in
stitution, where the insane of crimi-
nal tendencies are confined.
Mrs. VIM Thaw. from her hotel,
where she had received over the tele-
phone the news Of the trials end,
Joined in the demand OF her son.
Martin w. Littleton, whose conduct
of Tie case as chief counsel for the
defense has won so much favorable
comment, finally prevailed against the
wishes of the mother, Indicating to
her that he believed it would be bet
ter Tor the present to obey the man
date OF the court
Justice Bowling, IL was said, had
been consulted In the matter after he
had signed Lis order of commitment
and informally had advised Thaw's
counsel against making an immedi-
ate contest. The prisoners consent
was not won until after a lively scene
with his coUnsels and Ills wife. the
latter pleading with him for more
than an hour to be content for a time
at least with what fate had given
him.
Under promise that some action
speedily would be taken looking to
the appointment Of a commission TO
Inquire into his present sanity OF for
his transfer to a private institution
where his wife and otiler members of
his family might reside with him,
Thaw consented TO go without fur
ther protest.