The Alaska citizen., 1912-09-02
MILLION
 AND FAILED

NEW YORK. Aug. g. - In few days Justice Keogh will decide
 whether Harry Kendall Thaw. slay-
 CT of Stanford White, is legally in
 sane. The hearing just concluded
 at White Plains was as sensational
 as all the preceding contests be-
 tween Thaw and the state of New York.
 Former District Attorney Jerome,
 retained by the state to fight Thaw's
 attempt at release from Matteawan,
 is certain that Thaw will be adjudg-
 ed insane. Thaw's mother and At
 torney Shearn can see nothing but
 his release. Twice before has
 Thaw attempted to procure his re-
 lease from his legally insane state, and the hearing just concluded mak es
 the fifth battle the state has waged
 to keep him forever behind prison
 bars for the staying of Stanford White six years ago.
 The alienists have presented their
 bills for the trial They amount to more than $12,00O for a few days attendance and the presentation of conflicting testimony. Jerome is to receive slO,00O from the state. 1t is said.
 The witness fees, costs of court and other items will make the trial | cost to the state in excess of $50.- 900. What the cost is to the Thaw
 family no one knows; in previous trials it has always been twice the cost to the state.
 Thaw has said, 'I will have a trial every year until am set free" If he gets 1t he will be the most expensive prisoner in the history of the world.
 It has cost New York county $350,- 900 to put Thaw in Matteawan and keep him there. In his fight to get out Thaw has spent between sSOO- 900 and s1,OOO.OOO Thousands of
 the Thaw fortune went to chorus girls and other women who could have hurt Thaws chances when he was posing as a martyr. Sir Gala had. Attorney Hartridge. who af- terward was tried for his actions in the Thaw case. Is said to have
 spent $35,OO0 in the Tenderloin 'squaring Harry" with women.
 The first trial began January 23.
 1907, and lasted seventy-nine days
 Court expenses were $500 a day.
 The state aliensts received 5000
 The jury was housed and fed at a
 cost of $1,5O0 week. Witness fees and care of witnesses cost 5000
 more. When the jury, after AS hours
 returned a disagreement. the state had spent, for nothing, a trifle more
 than s10O,OOO.
 Thaw had spent nearly all he pos sessed, he said. He had given
 Hartridge $1O4,OO0. and the attorney
 entered suit for $50,00O more. Del phin M Delmas, the attorney from
 the Pacific slope" was paid $4O,OOO Other lawyers received sums from $1o,O00 up to guesswOrk. Lawyer l., tD s60 .000.
 Then came the second trial which
 cost the state another slOO,OOO At
 the end of this trial, when he was adjudged insane. Thaw from Mattea-
 wan declared he was bankrupt The two trials had cost him $43S ,00O in
 money already spent and he owed $453000. Valuable coal lands were sold and more money raised by Mrs.
 Mary Thaw, the prisoners mother. In 1909 Thaw began another fight for freedom before Justice Mills at White Plains Cost to the state, about $45,OOO; to Thaw, more than slO0O00.
 Two years passed and Thaw de clared he should have another hear ing. He had more alienists ready to testify.
 In the recent hearing at White Plains 775,OOO words of testimony were taken. This makes $500 type | written pages. In book form it
 would make eighty novels the size
 of the best sellers.
 Should Thaw fail to be released
 he intends to have another hearing
 next year. He has secured in
 come which is accommodating and
 which he can devote to the fight
 for freedom. The state must op-
 pose him.
 Nearly every lawyer connected
 with the case on Thaw's side has
 met with ill fortune.
 Thaw's mother, pitiable broken figure, is using the greater part of | what fortune she has left to help him in his fight