Evening journal., 1913-08-18
HISTORY OF
THAW SINCE
WHITE CRIME
Various Trials, Hearings and
Scandal Charges Continuous
From 1906
THREE LEGAL ATTEMPTS
AT LIBERTY FAIL

teaWan adds another act to the sensa-
tional tragedy that had itn beginning
in New York City on the night Of June
%. 1906. On that occasion, in COM
pany with his young wife Evelyn Nes-
bit Thaw, and two friends, Thaw went
to the Madison Square Garden Roof
Garden to witness the opening per-
formance Of a musical comedy.
Near the close of the performance
Thaw left his seat and began to pace
back and forth in the aisle behind TIE
seats occupied by Stanford White. an
architect OF International fame, and
his son. The elder White was fifty
three years old, and his distinguished
career had stamped on many OF New
York's prominent buildings the mark
OF his artistic genius. Madison Square
Garden itself was one Of the archi-
{. cts triumphs, and be had studio
in its tower
The killing Of White.
In this setting Thaw drew a revol-
yer and fred three bullets into STAN
ford White body The architect
died almost instantly II is believed
he did not see his slayer.
In the ensuing confusion no one
made an EFFORT TO intercept Thaw, who
for a moment stood over his victim 8
PROSTATE body Then he walked to
the elevator Of the roof garden, where
he met a house detective, and handed
over the revolver without resistance.
Thaw was then arrested by a po-
liceman. and while the officers hand
was on his shoulder Mrs. Thaw rush
ed up to her husband and placed her
arms around his neck Thaw assur-
ed his wife that Il would be "all
right" and not 10 worry
To this Mrs Thaw rejoined: Il
did not think you would do II that
wayi" and she AIDED: Never mind
Harry. I'll stick TO you through thick
and thin"
Thaw at the time OF the tragedy
was twenty-seven years old and was
known as the young spendthrift mil
lionaire from Pittsburgh
Rise Of the Thaws.
William Ihaw. the father, had been
a poor mechanic in Pittsburgh. and then
made small ventures in coal lands with
increasing good fortune He was said at
one time 70 be the heaviest individual
owner of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
When he died his estate was said 10 be
worth $400O0.o 900
BY the will Harry Thaw was allowed
S250o year. but his mother increased
this to $4,000 annually
Evelyn Ncshit married Thaw in Pitts
burgh on April 4. 1908 She was noted
among artists for her beauty. and had
been in turn model and actress.
With Tnaw in the Tombs. a legal
fight to free him began with the weight
of his familys millions behind n for
midahle array of counsel. His first trial
resulted in a disagreement. AT the sec.
ond trial the jury acquitted him on the
charge Of murder on the ground that he
was insane when he shot White. and
Justice Bowling committed 1haw to
Matteawan as an insane criminal.
lie entered the asylum February s,
1905 Since then the Thaw family has
spent sum estimated at 100000 in eff.
forts to have Thaw declared sane and
set at liberty.
Three Legal Attempts Fail.
In May, laos. supreme Court Justice
Morschauser decided against an attempt
TO release Thaw on habeas corpus pro
ceedmgs. In June. 1900, a similar writ
met the same adverse result, this time
before Justice Mills. The case then went
TO the State Court of Appeals, which
sustained the decision Of the lower
court. A third effort. in July 1912. re-
suited in Justice Keogh agreeing with
the other Supreme Court justices that
Thaw was still insane.
There was a scandal recently over al.
legged attempts TO engineer Ihaw's re-
lease through The attempted bribery Of
Or. John W. Russell. former superin-
tcndent of the Matteawan Hospital An
inquiry resulted in the indictment Of
John \. Anhut, a young New York at
tornev employed by Thaw On May H.
last. Anhut was found guilty OF Offering
DR. Russell a $4,000 bribe and sen.
tenced to from two 70 four years at
Sing Sing. The present superintendent
az Matteawan, DR.. Raymond c. Kieb
was appointed after Dr. Russell resigned
How Roger OMsra Was Called.
About the first that Mrs MARY
Copley Thaw. Harry Thaw's mother
did upon her arrival here from
Europe when she came to the aid of
her son after he had shot Stanford
White was to send 10 Pittsburgh
message directing Roger OMara L
report to her here at once. The mex
day came OMara, suave and diplo
matic.
II was no new thing for him TO b,
appealed 70 by a wealthy PITTSBURGH
parent in the hour Of trouble as th'
result Of some escapade of member
Of the family
For, even since he had -elinquishes
the Office Of chief OF police Of Pitts
burgh, OMara has filled the role o
first aid to wealthy Pittsburgh par
ents to keep their sons out of en-
tanglements.
From the moment he reached New
York. In Thaw's darkest hours, h
has been his guiding genius. And
although he has met many obstacle
in the way of court decisions, OMAR
has insisted that some day Harr
Thaw would be freed II was Roge
OMara who took charge OF the de
fence, and some give him credit fo
insisting that Evelyn Nesbit Tha'
should go on the stand to tell he
story. as The only thing he could Sc
would save Thaw. He brought De
phine Delmas, of "dementia Amer
cana" fame from California.
OMara has been working quietl,
Five years ago he was appointe
trustee OF Thaws fortune, at II
time Evelyn Nesbit Thaw was threa
wealth At that time an effort va
made to get Thaw out OF the jurisdi
ton Of the New York State courl
He was thrown into bankruptcy al
every endeavor was made to have
Federal Judge sitting in westel
Pennsylvania sign a writ of hahe
corpus to produce Thaw in Pitt
burgh 10 have him appear in d