The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-15
Club Steward TelIsof Mil
lionaire'S Strange AC-
tiOnS Few Hours Be-
fore Tragedy.
Other Witnesses for De-
fense Strengthen the
Contention That PriS-
Oner Was Insane.

NEW YORK, Jan. 15-Startling eyi
tdenee tending to show that Harry K
Thaw was a mental wreck during the
daylight hours Of June 25. 1906-on tn,
night OF which he killed Stanford White
was. introduced today in the testimOn!
of Christopher Biggin. a former stew
ard Of the New York Whist Club. where
Thaw was a constant player.
Biggin testified to the prisoners no
ticeable eccentricity, his unnatural pal
lor, and his extreme nervousness only q
few hours previous to the killing OF
White. Then he ClimaXed his evidenct
by recIting how Thaw, on the morning
Of the tragedy, had given him a pack
age which the prisoner declared was OF
great value. and which must be kept iT
the club safe Upon opening the pack
age later. Biggin found it contained
three ordinary cigarettes, rolled in tir
foil, obviously Of no especial value TO a
man Of Thaw's circumstances.
The other witnesses called during the
morning session all proved valuable 70
the defense in emphasizing the un-
natural actions Of ChaW prior To and
Immediately subsequent 10 the killing.
WCTd reached the court room today
that Mrs. William IhaW, mother OF the
prisoner, would leave Pittsburg for New
the court room before the close Of the
days session.
Judge Again Delayed.
There was another delay in opening
the days proceedings IN the trial Of
Harry Thaw. owing to the failure OF
Justice Bowling TO reach the court room
on time. the reason again being a sub
way block.
Attorney I.ittleton had a dozen wit
nesses in waiting. and stated no ex-
pected TO have no trouble in keeping ths
juUy's attention occupied during the
day. BY actual count there We're nine
persons in the spectators chairs. There
was a crowd about the corridors, and
the special police guard had visions OF
being kept busy but il developed most
Of them were waiting 70 take a civil
service examination. and had no interest
in the Thaw trial.
DR.. Fl. c. Wood, a practitioner Of Phil
adelphia, the first witness. examined
Harriet Alice Thaw in the spring OF 1901
as TO her mental condition. Jerome OBJ
jected and was granted permission TO
examine the witness as to his qualihca-
tons as an expert To Jerome. the wit
ness said he examined Harriet Thaw
as a health inspector Of Philadelphia.
but he did 50, likewise, as a physician.
Not Her Physician.
He insisted, however, he could not be
considered IN any way as her physician.
He was paid by the city for his work
and only knew the person he examined
was Harriet Alice Thaw, because he
was told that was the name Of the
patient examined.
Justice Dowling then overruIed the OBJ
lection. and DR. Wood stated he found
Harriet Thaw to be of uns0und mind.
a long technical wraugle then fol-
lowed over the admission OF a commit
Hlent Of Harriet Tnaw to an, asylum
signed by DR.. Wood.
The commitment was finally admitted,
il showing Harriet Alice Thaw was com
mitted 70 The Friends Asylum at Frank
fort, Pa To Jerome the witness said
he was thirty-foUr years old. Asked
how old was the woman he examined
he said:
II don't know. She was so. dirty it
was impossible for me to determine any
thing about her. All / knew about her
was what l learned from the neighbors.
She might have been sixty or even more
What was her ailment?r
Il considered il primary dementia. "
Are you an expert on mental dis
eases?"
I am not"
What were your professional duties
a that time outside of being a health
Inspector
Il taught the science Of drugs in the
University of Pennsylvania and was
also a practicing physician"
Dr. Wood was thea excused.
Thaw's Eccentricity.
Christopher Dagger now resident
of Brooklyn. and who has been stew
ard of whist clubs for fourteen years.
being now steward Of the New York
Whist CIab. was then called. He de-
clared Thaw was in the club the day
before the killing of Stanford White.
and, although IL was a very warm day.
he insisted on Keeping a screen about
his chair. complaining that it was cold
in the room. This. although every one
else was complaining OF the heat.
'On the morning of the day of the
shooting, Thaw came to the club in a
highly nervous condition" said the wit
ness. tie came inside, and seemed as
II ne did not recognize me, but he gave
my assistant a package rolled N tin
foil, which he told him to put in the
safe and guard carefully. II contained
three cigarettes rolled in tin foil"
What was his general appearance? %
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