Evening star., 1909-07-12
THAW KNOWS HEAPS MISS STEWART IS I'LL
Wise to All About EVERYTHING Has No Light to Shed SUIT
His Witnesses Indicate. ton Case Asserts Father
TELL OF TALKS WITH HIM NOT LIKELY TO TESTIFY
Fighting Real Earnest Now Pttsbug Councilman States That
Freedom. She Is Located at Staynebrae Ont
HEARING WAS BEGUN TODAY SUFFERER FROM NERVOUSNESS
Will Allow
and
a Few Things He Sees More
Wise to All About Everything
His Witnesses Indicate.
TELL OF TALKS WITH HIM
He's Fighting in Real Earnest Now
for His Freedom.
HEARING WAS BEGUN TODAY
Hydraulics, Construction, Electric
ity, Religion, Poetry and Litera-
ture a Few Things He Knows

NEW YORK, July 12.-Harry *. Thaw' S
effort to prove himself sane man and fit
to be released from the Matteawan Asy-
lum for the Criminal Insane was begun in
earnest before Supreme Court Justice
Mills here today.
Thaw's mother. Mrs. Mary Copley
Thaw: his sister, the former Countess of
Yarmouth, and Mr.. and Mrs. Josiah
Thaw sat near the prisoner during the
proceedings Thaw followed the testi-
mony with close interest and frequently
prompted his lawyer in his questions to
the witnesses.
Richard E. Lansing, a real estate dealer
OF Pougnkeepsie, the first witness called
testified that he had conversed with the
plaintiff on a variety of subjects at diff
ferent times, and that Thaw always ap-
peared coherent and rational.
Lansing who is a trustee of Baptist
church in Poughkeepsie. testified that he
had met Thaw several times in the chapel
at Matteawan Asylum, where he had gone
to conduct the services. He discussed
poetry and literature generally with the
prisoner, and witness said ThaW talked
appreciatively and intelligently on the
subject.
Oscar Mulford, another citizen OF
Poughkeepsie, who formerly was q
watchman at the Duchess county JAN
testified that while acting in that ca
pacity he saw Thaw every night from
| until 0 O'Clock. He had discussed n.y.
drauIics and the construction Of reser-
voir in the Catskills for New York city
frequently with the plaintiff. and ThaW
showed a clear head on these sclentlne
subjects, the witness said.
Ibid you ever discuss electricity!
Thaws counsel asked.
"Yes, and l said to Mr.. Thaw that
! had asked a great many experts wna'
| electricity was without getting a satls-
| factory answer. Electricity Mr.. Thaw
said, is silent agent and then he went
on to describe its principle as being q
matter of attraction.
Mulford testified that Thaw once gave
| him a cigar nine inches long and as thick
as broom handle. ThaW told him y
was clear Havana and he could smoke Il
at one sitting. Mulford enjoyed the
cigar for a. week at various times before
| he consumed it all, he said.
| Rev. Father Luke ]. Evers, pastor of st
| Andrews Roman Catholic Church, II
New York, and chaplain of the Tombs
prison. told of various conversations
with the prisoner In the Tombs prior tc
| his commitment to MatteaWan. Thaw had
taken a keen interest In other prisoners
| in the Tombs charged with murder, and
| had frequently discussed their cases with
! the witness, he testified. Father Evers
said Thaw displayed a broad knowledge
of the criminal law and the history OF
| the church In his conversations with
| him.
John ]. Hanley, assistant warden Of the
| Tombs while Thaw was there, testified
| that Thaw had interested himself ir
many of the prisoners and had been per-
mitted to buy them delicacies at times
which they would not otherwise have
| had.
Thaw was much interested in sports
and followed the ball games and races
| in the papers while in the Tombs. the
witness said. "He told me that prison
! life had been a revelation to him. Mr.
| Hanley testified. HE said he had thought
| the prisoners were treated brutally ano
cuffed and kicked about. but he hac
changed his opinion. He said they were
| all treated alike and with very humane
| consideration
| Mark G. Dubois. editor of Poughkeep
| sic newspaper testified that he had Otter
seen and talked with Thaw when he wa:
confined in the Poughkeepsie Jail, ant
| that the plaintiff appeared to him to ac
and talk nationally.