The state herald., 1908-02-07
THAW VERDICT
NOT GUILTY"
JURY FINDS THAT HE WAS IN
SANE AT THE TIME HE
SHOT WHITE.
IS SENT To AN ASYLUM
PRISONER cHEERED ON LEAVING
ToMBS IN HIS WiFE'S
AUTOMOBILE.

New Yorll-Adjudged not guilty OF
the murder of Stanford White by rea.
son 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 Grim
inal insane at Matteawan.
Thaw made a vigorous fight against
going to Matteawan. insisting that his
counsel secure a writ of habeas corpus
and immediate action by lunacy com.
mission, but Littleton overruled him.
1t was a quick transition from the
dingy little cell in the Tombs, which
has been the young mans home for
more than eighteen months, to the
white.bedded wards of the big asylum
tucked away on the snow covered
banks OF the Hudson river, fifty miles
above the city.
The verdict came after twenty-five
hours Of waiting and when everyone
connected with the case had abandoned
all hope OF an agreement ever being
reached In this or any other trial.
Few spectators were allowed in tho
room and an incipient demonstration
was stopped by the officers when they
arrested Theodore Roosevelt Pell, the
well known amateur tennis player, for
burst of applause. Pell was fined
s2S by Justice Bowling for contempt OF
court He had only check book with
him and was held In custody until
| friends could be summoned.
Mrs, Evelyn Thaw and Josiah Thaw
were the Cnly members OF the prison.
er's family in court when the verdict
was announced. The young woman
I thanked individually each member OF
the jury and followed Mr.. IittlctOn's
example In shaking hands with them.
The first thrill of the words OF ac-
Quittal brought Thaw to his feet in the
courtroom and with that lack of grace
of action which has always character
lied bis movements, he awkwardly. al.
most haughtily. bowed his acknowledg'
ments to the twelve jurymen as they
were discharged by the court
A smile played about his pallid fea'
/ lures and there was every reason to be
lieyc that he was entirely pleased with
the outcome.
II was after he had heard the words
OF Justice Bowling committing him Ia
/ Mattewan on the ground that his re
lease. In the opinion Of the court. would
endan"er the public safety. and after
the elatioa OF the verdict had died
away. that Thaw reboled.
lie commanded his attorneys lmme
dlately to sue out n witt OF haboas cor,
pus TO have his sanity tested before he
was sent away 10 the upstate institu
/ tlOn where tho insane Of criminal ten
/ dcncles wero confined. Mrs. William
/ Thaw. from her hotel, where she had
received over the telephone the news
Of the trials end. Joined !n the de
mand OF her son. Martin W. Littleton
whose conduct Of the case as chief
counsel for tho defense has won 50
much favorable comment. finally pre-
vailed against the wishes Of the mother
indicating to her that he believed 4,
would be better for the present "a
/ obey the mandate OF tho court
ThRw was ehcerod by crowd OF sey,
U fAhA AhhAlNu fflhhHh ~ NV was NHllA'N
away from the Tomhs In his wife's au,
tomobllc. II he heard. ho paid no heed
The machine was 30 iillod with dep
utles and members Of counsel that
neither Thaw nor his wifo was visible
10 the waiting throngs,
on his way 10 MattcawRn Thaw die
thtei the following authorized state
meut:
Il am perfectly sane now. but | am
going TO Mhttonwhn on the advice OF
my counsel. who thought u uuwiao 10
sue for a writ Of hahcaa corpus at this
time Counsel will proceed In the mat
ter of my release. and Just aB soon m
they can get together tho proofs they
will present them that am at present
sane I am confident that my stay NJ
Matteawul will be for a short period OF
time only"