Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-02-07
THAW IS ACQUITTED
JURY RETURNS VERDICT AFTER
Is HOURS DELIBERATION.
Noted Murder Case Ends by the Ac-
cused Man Being Declared Danger
ousIy Insane at Time of Crime and
Must Be Confined in Asylum as Such
Harry Created Scene.

New York, Feb. 3.-Adjudged not
guilty of the murder of Stanford White
by reason of insanity at the time the
fatal shots were fired, Harry Kendall
Thaw Saturday was held by the court
to be a dangerous lunatic and was
whirled away to the state hospital for
the criminal insane at Matteawan.
1t was a quick transition from the
dingy little cell in the Tombs which
had been the young mans home for
more than IS months to the white
bedded wards of the big asylum tucked
away on the snow covered, steep
banks of the Hudson river, so miles
above the city.
The verdict came after 25 hours of
waiting, and when every one connect
ed with the case had abandoned all
hope of an agreement ever being
reached in this or any other trial. Four
hours after the foreman's lips had
framed the words mot 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
which directed his detention until
discharged by due course of law"
No more unwilling patient ever
made journey to state institution
Thaw's train on it's way to Fishkill
landing, where a carriage was taken
to Matteawan, passed beneath the
walls of grim Sing Sing, but at no
time since his arrest on the night of
June rs, 1906, had the young Pitts
burger millionaire ever held the
thought that he would see the inside
of that famous prison, and he needed
it not.
The first thrill of the words of &C
the courtroom, and with that lack of
grace of action which always has
characterized his movements, he awk-
wardly, almost haltingly, bowed his
acknowledgements to the IL jurors as
they were discharged by the court. A
smile played about his pale features,
and there was every reason to believe
that he was entirely pleased with the
outcome 1t was after he had heard
the words of Justice Bowling commit
ting him to Matteawan, on the ground
that his release, in the opinion of the
court, would endanger the public safe
ty, and after the citation of the verdict
had died away, that Thaw rebelIed.
Justice Bowling, it is said, had been
consulted in the matter before he had
signed his order of commitment, and
informally had advised Thaw's counsel
against making immediate contest.
The prisoners consent was not won
until after a lively scene with his
counsel and his wife, the latter plead
ing with him for more than an hour to
be content for time at least with
what fate had given him.
On his way to Matteawan, Thaw die.
tated the following authorized state
ment to representative of the Asso,
ciated Press:
81 am perfectly sane now, but
am going to Matteawan on the advice
of my counsel, who thought it unwise
to sue for a writ of habeas corpus at
this time. Counsel will proceed in the
matter of my release just as soon as
they can get together the proofs they
will present that 1 am at present sane
1 am confident that my stay at Mat
teawan will be for a short period OF
time only"
Brief History.
April 23, 1905-Thaw and Evelyn
Nesbit married in Pittsburg.
June 25, 19O6-Thaw killed White.
January %, 19O7-First trial began
before Justice Fitzgerald.
February 2, 1907-Jury complete.
February 7, 1907-Evelyn Thaw tells
jury of wrongs by White.
March 26, 19O7-Lunacy commission
appointed.
April IA, 1907-Thaw declared sane
April IL, 19O7-Jury disagreed. after
being out 4S hours, standing seven to
five for conviction of murder in the
first degree.
January 6, 190S-Second trial began
January 10, 190S-Jury completed.
January II, 1907-Evelyn Thaw
again tells story.
January 81, 190S-Jury retired
February l, 1908-Thaw acquitted.
Sent to Matteawan.