The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-02-03
THAW AN INMATE
Of MATTEAWAN
ASYLUM
Until Discharged by Due Pro-
cess of Law
CONVEYED BY PRIVATE TRAIN
Mob Stormed His Car and Camera
Fiend Fired FIashlight In
His Face.

Thaw is in the observation ward OF
the State Asylum For the Criminal ln-
sane at Matteawan, n. Y.
He was on his way to that institu-
ton four hours after the jury that had
tried him for the killing of Stanford
White had acquitted him on the ground
that he was insane at The time of the
commission of the act charged.
That verdict was reached when the
jury had been twenty-five hours in Sc
cret deliberation. On the first ballot
four had voted for conviction. They
were gradually won over by the ma
| jorlty, and the last man yielded soon
after noon Saturday, when tue four
teenth ballot had been taken.
When the verdict was recorded,
Judge Bowling Immediately commit
| ted Thaw to Matteawan as danger
Gus maniac on the ground that the
testimony of the defendants own ex-
perts and other witnesses had showed
that manic Oppressive insanity sub
| iected its victim to recurrent attacks.
| during which he is likely to commit
murder or suicide.
| The order is that he be held there
until discharged by due course of
law"
Attended by two Of his counsel, Har-
| ny Thaw left the Grand Central sta
ton a few minutes before . o'clock.
The doors of the asylum closed upon
him at twenty-five minutes to 10 o'clock
at night.
New York Central officers at the
Grand Central station provided a pri-
vate combination smoker and baggage
car for Thaw, his counsel and his
guards. 1t was attached next to the
engine on a train leaving at fifty-four
minutes after o'clock, and two spe-
cial policemen were placed on the
train by the railroad company to pre-
vent commuters from intruding.
Attemtps were made to storm the
car. but the curious were driven back
by the policemen standing outside the
door. On the trip up the banks of the
Hudson to Fishkill, where it was nee
essary to leave the train and take a
carriage for Matteawan. Thaw receiv-
ed the newspaper men and gave out
brief statement.
IL am perfectly sane" he said In his
nervous way, but ] am going to Mat
teaw on the advice of my counsel to
remain until necessary action can be
taken to prove me sane. My greatest
regret is that | have to he separated
longer from my wife and relatives"
While on the trip Thaw did not once
ask any questions about the institu-
ton in which he was about to be In
: generated, but he talked eIcitedly
with Mr.. O'Reilly and Mr.. Peabody
:. about methods to obtain his release
and the time when an application
would be made.
Thaw narrowly escaped serious in
Jury to one eye from flashlight when
he left the train at Fishkill Landing
station. A photographer set off
charge of fash powder almost under
his nose, and the flame leaped so clost
,, to his face that his left eyebrow was
, singed. Thaw leaped to one side ant
: quickly thrust a newspaper between
} his face and the crowd to shield him
! self from other camera men.
Thaw and his party left their spe
: cIal train at Fishkil Landing just be
fore Z o'clock. Before driving tn,
three miles to Matteawan the party
I visited the Riverview inn and partool
r of something to eat and two quarts
of champagne They stopped also a
r the Holland House and had dinner.
No arrangements for specially pre-
. pared meals having yet been made TO
, him, Thaw shared the hospital far
. with all the others. His dinner In
e cluded roast pork, potatoes, sauer
| kraut bread, butter and coffee.
At 3 p. IN. Thaw attended divin
i. services in the hospital auditorium o
theater conducted by the Rev. Harr.
!, Sheldon. pastor of the Fishkill Land
o ing church.
l. During the day Thaw declared to on
d of the attendants that he probabl
y would not be in the hospital more tina
week. He said his lawyers woul
sue out writ of habeas corpus i
" his behalf, and he was sure he woul
!. be allowed his liberty as the result o
n hearing in court or an inquiry be
t fore commission.
o DR.. Amos Il. Baker one of the med
!, ical assistants to Superintendent Lamf
= - said he would not allow Thaw to hav
- liquor and tobacco unless his cond
a ton seemed to demand them for
A. time In medical moderation.
IS