Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-29
HARRY K. THAW TAKES
STAND IN own BEHALF,
Has Had Enough Of Private Examinations by Alien.
lists and Prefers to Demonstrate His Mental Con-
dition to the Court...Questioned by Jerome.

his big spectacles. He directed tri-
| umphant smile at his counsel and
| seemed well satisfied 80,
| 1T is not matter of private ,preju-
dice to the peoples attorneys" said the
| district attorney, whether this man
| is confined or not. We are only trying
to assist the conscience of the court
in making it's decision"
Jerome asked Thaw why he did not
| permit DR.. Allen McLane Hamilton to
examine him at the time he was re-
tanned by his attorneys.
II did not like his looks" replied
Thaw
What did not you like about thern?''
on, just did not like them. He was
like DR.. Fell" ...
Who was DIR. Fell?" asked Jerome.
why, don't you know-I do not like
YOU DR.. Fell, the reason why I can
not tell. replied the witness smiling.
The district attorney dropped this
line of questioning. ff-.
"Wcre you ever insane?" asked Jer-
ONE.
Il may have been at one time for
4 few moments --.s..7
Were you crazy when you killed
otdlllpIu w illte
L think I was legally crazy, but
nay be mistaken" -f 90
DO you think you did wicked thing
in killing him?a' e-t-.,.t
Il do
"Then why did you kill him?"
probably for what he did to my
wife
ITO your wife alone?" 4"....
principally" s.F-.-..
"Were you JEALOUSY" f4e IN
Il could not say that l was Jealous"
Did you have feeling of bitter
. PERSONAL enmity toward him, or did
GU think he was the kind of creature
haf every decent man was 1ustified In
uttlng out of the way?' a sg5i
There is no such thing as a man
hat every decent man should put out
the way" s.-5 ~
Asked again why he killed White.
haw replied: ~
Really, l do not know"
ThaW said that his own choice of an
ttorney for his first trial was Cover
or Hughes. because the jury would
now that any witness he put on the
tand would be truthful h ~
Jerome reviewed Thaw's freu,,ent
mango of counsel. The witness explain
q that his disagreement with the firm
t Black, Gruber & Olcott was due to
ne determination to try to acquit him
N the ground of insanity when ne
new he was not insane
lie reiterated, however, that he
hight have been insane for brief in
arval when he killed White.
You must remember" he remarked,
that these lawyers were influenced, In
heir belief regarding my inentals con-
1tion because they were told that the
harges | made against White were
lntrue' -s' .fti - psfsf
But were they true?" demanded Jer-
me si Ffsf
"They were," replied Thaw firmly.
why were you expelled from Har-
ard" asked the district attorney
Il was told I was not useful there
md |, with four others. was. put out
or studying subject not in the cur
iculum." 'a So
Was that an immoral subject"
illegal, perhaps, but not immoral"
Mr.. Jerome did not pursue that sub
ect further, but reverted to the testi-
lony given yesterday by Susan Mer-
III, Thaw's former landlady, In New
York
Thaw declared that when he first
earned that Mrs. Merrill was to 20 on
ne stand he was exceedingly angry.
| was told" he continued. that Gar.
in assistant district attorney. got her
Up in your Office and spat In her face
md got her to tell lot Of lies about
ne. But Of course I don't say this Is
rue"
Thaw was in the midst Of his testi-
nony and apparently unruffied, by his
'rdeal when court took. the noon re-
;ess. .M 49, H.,
AS he left the stand DIR. Britton D.
evans, his chief alienist and Mr..
Morschauser seized his hand and told
I'm he had acquitted himself SPLEEN
idly The prisoner went hack to- the
laii for his luncheon. smiling and to
III appearances, in happy frame OF
mind. Recess was then taken.
When the afternoon session opened
Mr.. Jerome asked Thaw: -1. .-ys-e-.-
I'm your opinion are you now sahe?.
L Yes" said Thaw, "and in other per
sons opinion" \ AiANAl1en1D
The witness was then shown the
pamphlet prepared by his mother.
| did you believe the allegation with
which this pamphlet opens, that 4
,owardly combination Of powerful men
existed against you was trueg asked
he prosecutor. Ill
Il thought my mother must have
oeen so Informed or she wouldn't have
said it" was the reply.
Thaw said he did not believe that
such combination existed to counsel
the wrong doing Of Stanford White
and his associates
Continued on Page TNelvs.)