Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-09
Legal Plans Available.


Two legal courses are open to Thaw.
His attorney may bring habeas corpus
proceedings by applying to any SUI
preme court justice for an order and
then ask that Thaw be tried by jury
| to establish his sanity.
The other course is simpler, but
| would be inadvisable except under GER
tain favorable conditions. The insanity
laws applying to Matteawan provide
| that "any inmate not a convict, held
on an order of the court or judge in a
criminal proceeding, may be discharged
therefrOm upon the superintendent
certification OF recovery, made to, and
approved by. such Judge"
judge willing that the case be tried
before Jury which would hold Thaw's
liberty in it's hands. The latter
course would necessitate bringing the
case before judge who believed Thaw
to be unlawfully held, and a superin-
tendent of the same convictions.
In either case District Attorney Whit
man would be powerless to demand
Thaw's retention in the asylum. for he
has no standing whatever in the mat
ter. He explained yesterday that Thaw
had been found not guilty of murder;
Matteawan, and that there was no in
dictment standing against him. There
fore the case was out OF his hands.
Thaw a Potential Paranoiac.
DR.. Flint has said he was aware that
a move was to be made in Thaw's be-
half, and strongly indicated that he
would apply for permit to carry a
revolver in case the man Is released.
Asked II he considered Thaw to be still
insane and public menace, he dictated
the following statement:
'"Thaw has been a potential paranoiac
since early childhood, with bad neu-
rotic heredity. Before he killed White
he had become possessed of a fixed. sys-
tematized delusion that he had a mission
to protect American girls from de-
bauchees, although at that time. as APP
peared in evidence, he was Negotiating
helpless young women in considerable
numbers.
"He is absolutely incurable and high
ly dangerous, il released. In my opin-
ion, in case he should be liberated, he
would soon be guilty Of some criminal
act Of violence, probably homicide. He
| or later and would appear on the social
TT is probable that he would repeat
his many previous exploits in attempt
ing to clean out saloon or give, ana
killed by some tough In 'self-defense.'
And this among certain classes would re-
fleet honor upon the individual fortunate
enough to do the killing.
Transfers Enmity to Flint.
"I am informed and believe that Thaw
has transferred his enmities entirely and
absolutely to me. He regards others who
were instrumental In securing his con-
fnement in Matteawan as persons who
simply did their duty. But at present 1t
appears that he regards me as his chief
persecutor. I should not hesitate to take
measures to protect myself II he should
be at large and I should meet him."
When DIR. Baker was asked as to his
opinion he unhesitatingly replied that
Thaw was an incurable and highly dan
| gerous. As he had Thaw In charge since
his incarceration until he resigned his
post. only four months ago. he has in
| innate knowledge Of the mans physical
| and mental condition.
'My ideas in this case are a matter OF
public record. and do not consider 1t
is a dangerous paranoiac and should not
be permitted his freedom" he said with
emphasis. HE Is Just as insane at this
moment as he was the day he was ad-
mitted to the asylum: and would be
menace to the public In event Of his lib
| Enthusiastically he should be kept In
| confinement. Every effort should be made
| in Tits direction, and believe it would
be advisable for the attorney general to
| appoint Mr. Jerome to look after the
| peoples interests. He Is extremely Ia
miliar with the case
| Evelyn Withdraws Objections.
One of the stumbling blocks so far as
the release of Thaw is concerned is de-
clared to have been eliminated. In 1909.
when Thaw was attempting to establish
his sanity before the supreme court at
White Plains. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, his
wife, testined that her husband had
threetened to kill her once he had
Piles Cured In . to ~ Days.
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