Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-13
HARRY THAW MUST RE-
TURN TO MATTEAWAN.
Justice Mills Decides from Evidence Of Experts
And His Own Impressions That Stanford Whites
Slayer Is Still Afflicted With Insanity.

common reputation, we'll known to him,
the mistress or a mistress of Stanford
White. She soon assumed that relation
to Thaw and obviously, to account to
him for her former position with White,
told him various wild and grossly i'm
probable stories of the inception of
that relation. Although he, Thaw, evil
IDENTIFY was himself tar from a moral
man, and was then engaged or soon
thereafter became engaged in practices
IF perverted character, as revealed
by the testimony of the Merrill wo-
man. which, with the confederation af-
corded by other evidence in the case.
appears credible; he gave absolute
;redence to the tales told him by Miss
Nesbit about White.
He obtained similar information as
o Whites conduct with a few other
Dung women, either directly with
hem, or through Miss Nesbit, all of
which information was of the same
Wild and improbable character. evil
lently to any normal mind grossly ex-
ggerated. To all, however. he gave
IMPLICIT belief. His mind became abso-
IteIy possessed with these stories. He
u oc'it DtiltNeu t1lcIH lI6tT en-
irety but he deduced from them con-
lusions as to the practices of White
ar beyond what such belief in q nor
lal mind would warrant. From the
harges separately made by these few
dmittedly immoral women he conclud-
that White maintained several
laces in New York City where he ac-,
emphasized by force or by drugs, the
lin of respectable young American
iris. as it We're by the wholesale Such
'elief. to such extreme extent, was
lainly his delusion.
His delusions as to the practices
f White We're not shaken by the fail
re OF the Investigations made by the
electives and public authorities; and
is delusive belief in his special mis-
ion continued to possess his mind In
hat mental condition, at the roof gar
en-. he came into the presence Of
White, doubtless unexpectedly. and
'ublicly shot him to death in spec
acular and theatrical manner In do
og SO he believed that he was acting
the agent of Providence and per-
orming praiseworthy act like that
David in Staying Goliath. or St.
gorge in killing the dragon"
Regarding Thaw's suspicious of
onspiracy against him by his early
ounsel the court said:
"Such belief, that is, as to the pur-
ose, was utterly without the least
oundation and clear delusion."
"All this" continues Justice Mills.
according to the weight of expert tes-
mony. is plainly the history of a pa
anoiac. This court concludes, there
ore, that Thaw's insanity at the COM
assion of the homicide was of the
ind known as paranOia, and not at all
the 'brainstorm-sane half a min
to before and sane half a minute at
ar'--variety. if any such variety real
exists.
"The verdict of the jury was plainly
;arranted by the evidence, not merely
an expression of reasonable doubt
ut even as an affirmative finding Of
he facI of insanity.
1T is true that the new testimony
pom this trial. introduced in behalf Of
he prisoner, tends materially, to vary
lie history of his early life as above
tatcd. 1 am convinced, however. that
l such variance it Is very largely
listaken and that the testimony upon
hat point, given at the second murder
rial by mother, nurse, family physi-
ian and teachers, is the more credible.
Second conclusion-Harry X. Thaw
as not yet recovered from his insanity
bove stated and defined. This deter
lination is made upon the following
rounds:
First ground-All the experts agree
hat IN a case of true paranoia recov-
ry is very doubtful.
Second ground-The court is dis
,osed to pay great respect to the opin-
on of the hospital authorities hereof
Dr.. Baker, the hospital physician ilav-
/ ng had actual charge Of Thaw there.
All such authorities are public officers
With no conceivable motive except to
10 their duty.
Third ground-In view Of the lead
ng traits of paranoia, the lay testimo-
~ given by so many entirely respecta-
Die and credible witnesses, showing RAJ
(Cnntfnuod IN Do Ga Tan