The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-02-03
TIE TRAw VERDICT

Inc verdict OF the jury which ac-
Quilted Harry Thaw of the murder of
Stanford White on the grounds of
insanity was doubtlessly the popular
one but to all who think soberly
and honestly on the subject 1t cannot
appear other than a travesty on JUS
tice. 1t matters not what excuses
may be made for Thaw, the fact re-
mains that he did kill Sanford
White and no one can doubt for a
moment that he premeditated the
crime and went to the Madison
Square Roof Garden prepared to CON-
init the deed, should the architec. be
there. These are facts which were
established by the evidence.
Everyone who has followed the case
even in disinterested manner can
not but agree that Stanford White
deserved killing and that 1t would
have been a blessing had he been re-
moved at an earlier date. Even
District Attorney Jerome made no
effort to shield him when making
his argument to the jury. He ad-
mitted that White was all that his
enemies claimed for him. But La
character of Stanford White did not
give Harry Thaw a license to kill
him. Besides a reformation, or a
wedding out Of undesirable persons
comes with very poor grace from a
man like Harry Thaw.
Justice Bowling, who presided dur
ing the last trial, made 1t very plain
in his charge to the jury that the
killing of Stanford White was mur-
der, murder which could be ex-
cused only upon the grounds or in
sanity, and doubtlessly, taking this
as their cue, the Jurors agreed upon
the verdict which they returned.
Justice Dowling's commitment OF
the prisoner to the hospital for GRIM
inally insane at Matteawan is Sig
nificant of two things. 1t signifies
first that the man who had better
opportunities than any other for pass
Ing Judgment in the matter, con-
siders Thaw guilty of crime for
which he should pay some penalty,
and secondly; 1t signifies that he con-
siders he was just as sane when he
killed White as he Is today.
Ever since the eventful evening
when Harry Thaw fired the shots
which killed Stanford White, the pre-
diction has been made that he would
never be sent to the electric chair
for his crime. The reason given
for the prediction was that he had
TOO much money, and his money
would get him out of trouble en-
tirely. There is no disputing the
fact that his money has aided very
materially in keeping him out of the
electric chair. Had Thaw not had
an almost inexhaustible amount of
money behind him, he would have
probably paid the death penalty
months ago. But this does not prove
that his money has been used in any
other than legitimate manner. His
money employed the best criminal
lawyers obtainable and brought to
his rescue every witness who could
aid his defense and every alienist
who could testify intelligently as TO
his sanity or insanity. We are not
ready TO believe, as the statement
that man with money can escape
punishment for any crime implies.
THAT our courts have come to be
faTces, places where the rich buy their
freedom, while the poor pay the
penalty fof their crimes.
The real test is yet to come. Harry
Thaw 2been sent to Matteawan.
The judge before whom hiS sasSSd
trial was conducted evidently con-
siders him as insane now as when
he killed White and the general
public holds about the same opinion.