Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-01
TOday's Telegraphic News.
Thaw Declared Insane .


New York, Feb. Harry Thaw
was acquitted of the murder of Stanford
White shortly after noon today, the
grounds being insanity. Immediately
after the jury had returned its verdict
Justice Bowling committed the prisoner
to the asylum for the criminal insane at
Matteawan, subject tolhis possible re-
covery.
The jury had been out % hours al
most to the minute, and Is said to have
taken in the neighborhood of q dozen
ballots before reaching verdict. The
next to the deciding ballot is reported TO
have stood nine for acquittal aud three
for conviction 10 some degree of murder
less than the FIRST degree.
Buryipg the argument following this
ballot one Of the three holding out came
over for scquittsl and the other two men
cspitulated.
Evelyn Thaw, wife Of the prisoner,
and Josiah Thaw, his brother, were in
the courtroom at the time the verdict
was received. Mrs. William Thaw,
mother OF the prisoner, was at her hotel
where the word was phoned her. 1t is
said she tainted upon hearing the YER
dict.
Upon the jury stating that they had
reached verdict Thaw was told to rise.
He did 30 and the fading of the twelve
men that he was mot guilty on the
grounds of insanity was read to him.
Thaw who had previously looked heart
broken smiled broadly and resumed bis
seat, turning to smile at his wife and
brother, who returned his greeting.
Justice Bowling forbade any demon
stration on the part of tbe audience. AS
the jury announced Its verdict young
man who later gave his name as Theo-
dore Roosevelt Pell started to clap his
hands. Captain Lynch of the court
squad Immediately placed him under ar
rest and he was quickly brought before
Justice Bowling. A Sue of s26 for con-
tempt of court was imposed. This was
paid at once.
AS the word left the foreman's lips
Thaw turned for q single instance and
smiled at his wife. Tie effort was
sickly one, but Evelyn smiled back as
beat she could. The prisoners face was
CHASTITY pale, bis eyes were staring and
s cold sweat had broken outon his brow.
Evelyn sat in her chair as If transixej.
There was a look of expectancy on her
face So Foreman Gremmels arose and
she lsaued forward in her chair tense
with nervousness.
Immediately after the announce
ment of the verdict the court be-
gan speaking. "Thls jury has &C.
Quilted this defendant on the grounds Of
Insanity. Ii is not within the province
of this court to discharge this defendant"
The entire testimony In this cass indi-
Gates that Harry K. Tbaw has been and
now ia suffer from 'msuia-depressive in-
sanity.' This form of disease has been ex-
planned to this court and jury as 8 disease
OF the mind which is we'll Digh incurable.
A person suffering from this disease is
liable to msniscal outburst during which
the subject may attack and kill his TEL
lows. There are also Oppressive forms
during which the person may kill him
self. Therefore upon ell of the tcstl-
nony 10 this case, this court is satisfied
that grsnt Of freedom to this defendant
would be dangerous TO the community
at large. The court therefore orders that
in The interest Of public safety that tbis
defendant be recommitted to the Tombs
and from there transferred to the SLste
ssylum for the insane ct MalteawsD."
Jerome and Li!tleton each sought to
gain the floor, but Justice Dowliog
waved them down, before any argu-
ment could be offered by either side.
Thaw was then taken back to the
Tombs to await the further action of the
court which will not be taken until next
week. 10 he meantime Attorney Little
ton will seek to have the prisoner COM
milted to some private sanitarium, and
it is probable will later ask for an insan-
ity commission before which how'll seek
to prove Thaw's present sanity.
Justice D)glilg then announced that
he would remain at the court until 3
O'Clock this afternoon in order to give
TIE attorneys for The defense an opPOr-
tuui,y to prepare writ Of hsbeas cor
pus or teks any other action they desire
to foresiall Thaw's commitment to Mat
teRSen.
Evelyn Thsw, shaking in every limb,
DATED across the room to greet her huS-
band. But before she had advanced
ten steps detective Moore. who has been
working for LiLlletoo, Intercepted her.
'Wait a WHILE" be said TO her,
eve vii have plan;y o; Tins for felici-
tetion laier on. Just co,os wish me,
and tuekirg her hand under his arm he
led her through tbs ante room corridor
Thaw himself was still in a dsEs.
he started to rise, sank back and then
Under urging from an attendant, got to bis
feet aud bowed and smiled bis thanks
TO the twelve jurymeD.
DeWitts Little Riser Pills are sold by W
F. Creighton 4 Co.