The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-02-06
INSANE SAYSJURY
Thaw Not Responsible When
lie kiIled White.
SENT TO An INSANE ASYLUM
Justice Dowiing Declines TO Release
Prisoner, But Commits Him 10 the
Matteawan Asylum For the Grimm
81 Insane.

New York, Special.-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 told by
the court to be dangerous lunatic
and was whirled away TO the State
Hospital for the Criminal Insane al
| Matteawan.
Thaw was whirled away from the
| Tombs in his wife's automobile. A
| special car was attached to the regu.
lar 4:39 express over the New York
Cenrtal. Thaw smoked and talked
with his counsel throughout the
| iournej.
Thaw Was Not Prepared.
Thaw was not prepared for the
| climax of his case, and he was COM
manded to stand and face the Jurors,
they in turn were called to their feet.
"Jurors, look upon the defendant !;
| defendant, look upon the jurors"
! called Clerk Penny, Gentlemen Of
the jury, have you agreed upon a ver-
dict 2"
"We have,' SAID Foreman Grem-
mels.
"What say you? Is the defendant
guilty or not guilty?'
| "Not guilty, on the ground that he
| was insane at the time of the com
| mission Of the act charged in the in
dictment."
After thanking the jury, Justice
Bowling turned to Thaw and his at
torneys and said:
"The only testimony in this case
UPON which a verdict of insanity
| could be based was to the effect that
| nIan1ae-depressive form of mental de-
1a,.gement This testimony and the
diagnosis of the form Of insanity was
based Upon prior outbreaks of the de-
fendant as testified to by witnesses
| from London, Montreal, Paris and
Albany. 1t also appears from the
testimony, and the court was careful
to inquire rs to this, that occurrences
Of these attacks are reasonably cer-
tain. There has been no testimony
oouuSCu uCIC w SuoW tudb q pSioOl
suffering from this form Of insanity
ever can be permanently cured. II
appears, however, that during the
maniacal form Of the disease, the per-
SON suffering therefrom is likely to-
commit dangerous assaults or mur-
der. There is danger also of suicide.
Dangerous to Public.
"Therefore upon all the testimony
in this case, the court deems that to
allow the defendant to go at large
would be dangerous to the public
| safety. The decision of the court is
that the defendant shall not now be
discharged, but being III custody, shall
be so held, and committed with ali
| dispatch to the State hospital for the
| criminal insane at Matteawan. The
sheriff Of the county is directed to
take custody Of the defendant and
deliver him to the State authorities at
Matteawan.
Mrs. Evelyn Thaw and Joshua
Thaw were the only members Of the
prisoners family in court when tie
verdict was announced. The young
woman thanked individually each
member Of the jury and followed Mr..
Littleton's example in shaking hands
counsel were elated with the verdict.
District Attorney Jerome was almost
as we'll pleased himself. He has con-
tended from the first that Tbaw was
medically, if not legally insane. Mr.
Jerome congratulates Mr. Littleton
and both counsel and jury joined III
congratulating Justice Victor J..
Dowling, who presided at the trial
with so much satisfaction to both
| sides. The jurymen expressed their
thanks to the judge for his kindly
interest in all matters affecting their
comfort.
So far as hes within his power, Dis
trict Attorney Jerome will resist any
effort to have TEaw liberated at any
time In the near future. Neither will
he willingly consent to his transfer
to a sanitarium.
| Thaw Rebels.
He commanded his attorneys i'm
mediately to sue out writ Of 1aDeas
corpus to have mis- SAINT sestea be-
fore he was sent away to the up
State Institute where the Insa.ie OF
criminal tendencies aI9 coa3ned-
Mrs. William Thsw, from Ter hotel,
where she had received over ss.se tele-
phone the news Of the trials end,
| Joined In the dea1cnd Of her son.
Martin W. Littleton, chief council for
| the defense. finally prevailed againss
| the wishes Of the mother, indicating
| to her that he believed it Eoald bs
| better for the present % obey the
| mandate of the court.
Mr.. Littleton informed Thaw, it
was stated, that there 10 such q
thing as public sentiment in New
York City,
"But shall not 60 to Mattea-
wan,o Thaw Is reported to have re-
peated many times
| Under promise that seme action
! speedily would be taken looking to
the appointment Of commission TO
inquire into his present sanity or for
his transfer to . private institution