The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-14

For Jury Trisl-Thsws Mother At
taeks Jeroms.
White Plains. \. Y. Aug IL
Harry X. Thaw's latest attempt 10 gsin
his liberty met with complete and dis
heartening defeat when Supreme
Court Justice Isaac y. Mills dismissed
the writ OF hsbeas corpus and de
clsred that the release OF the petit
toner would be dangerous 10 the pub
lie peace and safety" The signing OF
an order sending Thaw back to Mat
teawan is all that remains TO complete
the failure Of this latest appeal TO the
courts.
All the contentious Of his old sdver-
sSry. District Attorney Jerome. are
supported, and il is declared that
Thaw is still insane. stu suffering
from persistent deiusions. and still
as much a paranoiac as on the day
be shot Stanford white
VIII cont'nus Fight For Liberty.
ThaN received the news With an
outward calmness wAich appeared
however. more forced than real The
members Of his family and his at
torney seemed stunned by the thor
oughness OF their defeat Thaw con
tented himsclf with the assertion that
he was not disheartened. and would
at once continue his fight for liberty
My ne1t Efforts he said. will be
centered upon the court Of appeals.
through which I expect to secure
hearing before jury in my effort 10
have my commitment TO Mstteawau
set aside"
Justice Mills Opinion.
Justice Mills in his opinion reaches
three formal conclusions: That Thsw
was insane when he killed White; that
he has not yet recovered. and that
public peace and safety would De on
dangered by setting him AZ large He
upholds District Attorney Jerome's
contentious that Thaw still cherishes
delusion regarding the practices OF
Stanford White and his associates He
characterizes Evelyn Thaws tale OF
the Madison Square tower room. and
similar stories about White told at
the sanity hearing. As wild and gross
ly improbable evidently 20 any normal
mind grossly exaggerated He asserts
bis belief in the testimony OF Susan
Merrill regarding Thaws alleged per
vert practices. and points out the con
trsst between Thaw's chivalrous atti
tude as a protector OF young Amer
can womanhood and his private life
Justice Mills expressed deep syp
paihy FOR Mrs. Mary Coplsy Thav
the prisoner mother and her expos.-
ton OF the horrors OF Matteawan"
on the stand evidently prompted hls
recommendation that Thaw be allowed
greater privileges AT that institution
At the same time he gently chided
Mrs. Ihaw for her censure Of District
Attorney Jerome OF whom be said.
Il find no evidence OF any heartless-
ness or undue zeal on his part"
Not the least significant sentence
In Justice MnIs decision. In the opin-
ION OF lawyers here. is one which de.
clares thar Thaw's decisions had be-
come fixed and established prior TO
the time Of his marriage II is pointed
out that this sentence may. n desired
prove grounds for proceedings by AIrs.
Evelyn Thaw for the annulment OF her
marriage
Thaw's Mother Flags Jerome.
Mrs. Mary Copley Thaw gave out
the following statement.
Let no one imagine for moment
on reading this opinion OF Judge Mills
that II means a victory for the district
attorney OF the county OF New York
One by one the decisions with
which he and his alienists started out
were proven. each by the mouths OF
several witnesses TO be stubborn facts.
that would not down At his bidding.
Every prop was taken from under
that arrogant. vindictive prosecutor Of
a sane acquitted man.
so bai1ed was he that when he
rose to make his closing speech for
argument it was mott he had more the
| appearance of schOolboy compelled
TO say a piece than the sometimes
| courageous. mature sophist who domi-
mates the courts of his own sidiclal
district except when wealthy malefac-
tors are under trial
1T is impossible TO fathom the
| workings Of the human mind. and so
the reason for this totally unexpected
and cruel decision OF the trial Judge
must remain mystery. Meanwhile
my son my daughter and have no
alternative but 20 take up again the
burden ] had every reason TO believe
was behind Us forever. We exiled from
our two homes and all the regular
flow II life Will remain close 10 the
gate. and so help the son and brother
20 endure an existence which. II per
petuai. would De far worse than death
Itself. trusting in Gods overruling
providence in His own good time to
vndicate the right"