The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-18

New York. Aug. 18.-Mrs Mary
Copley Thaw received about noon to-
day a letter from her son, Harry X
Thaw. who escaped from Matteawan
asylum for the criminal insane Thaw
said he planned to take a rest be-
fore going to the Thaw country place,
Elmhurst, al Cresson, Pa.
New York. Aug 1S.-Harry K.
Thaw, slayer of Stanford White,
escaped from the state hospital for
the criminal insane at Matteawan, n.
Y at 7:45 o'clock Sunday morning.
Darling past an attendant who had
Just opened the gate to the asylum
grounds to let the milkman enter,
Thaw leaped into six cylinder auto
mobile which stood throbbing oppo-
site the entrances and disappeared in
a whirlwind of dust in the direction of
the Connecticut state line A second
autombile followed him.
In his powerful car Thaw swept
through the hamlet of StOrmville, ten
miles away, at sixty miles an hour,
heading for Connecticut.
Dr. F. r. c. Kieb, the hospital head,
believes Thaw fled to some spot on
the shore of Long Island sound and
boarded a yacht for Europe.
a reward of $500 has been offered
by Dr. Kieb for Thaws apprehension.
Thaw's former counsel and officials or
the state hospital committee expressed
the opinion that Thaw would be free
man, once outside the states boun-
daries. They thought he could not be
brought back to New York by extradl-
ton unless he were legally adjudSed
insane in the state to which he fled.
Mrs Mary Copley Thaw, the fugi-
tive's aged mother, manifested delight
at his escape.
Mrs Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, playing
L, cd n
be terrorized and said she feared he
would execute his threat to kill her
Police and detectives guarded her.
Howard H. Barnum, the asylum at
tendant, who witnessed Thaws sue
cessful break for liberty was locked
up in the county Jail a charge of
aiding and abetting Thaw in his
escape.
William T. Jerome. the former dis
trict attorney of New York, who has
thwarted all of Thaw's legal attempts
to gain freedom, refused TO express his
opinions as to whether Thaw could be
brought to New York when found.
District Attorney Whitman of New
York likewise declined to give his
views.
ernorship is regarded as favorable to
Thaw's prospects of remaining long
out of the state, even if he should be
Rpperhended and extradition papers be
issued for his return.
nor. directed by telegraph the super
intendent to make a report on Thaw's s
escape and said he would begin at once
a sweeping inquiry.
Story of the Flight.
Matteawan, n. Y, Aug. S.-Harry
K. Thaw, the slayer of Stanford White,
esca aped from the hospital here for the
criminal insane at 7:45 o'clock Sunday
morning. A dart for liberty through
an open gate. a dash INTO the open
door of a powerful automobile that
stood quivering outside and a flight
like a rocket for the Connecticut state
line, thirty mile away, accomplished |
his escape.
Five confederates manned the car
in which Thaw escaped and a big
black limousine which trailed it past
their license and the names under
which they registered at local hotel
Friday night and are seeking them.
The shades were drawn in the dor
mitories and the inmates were get
ting their second sleep when Thaw
left his room. He was fully dressed.
The milkmGn's cart was rumbling on
the road outside as he walked through
the store room and into the outer court
or yard of the asylum grounds Bar
num- sole attendant at the road gate !
was pacing back and forth when Thaw
closed the store room door behind him /
and apparently did not grasp the sig
nificance of Thaw's early rising
Long years of residence at the asy-
lum and repeated declarations by Thaw
that he would never attempt to obtain /
his freedom except by legal means had |
esta blished the madman'S status as a |
trusty.
All Well Timed.
There was little odt of the ordinary
in Thaw's appearance, even at so an |
early hour in the court yard and if
Barnum saw him-aS to this no one |
save the hospital authorities could say
and those refused to talk-he raised no !
concern. A six cylinder touring car
black and 60 horsepower, followed by !
a limousine, also black, went along the (
road as the miI<man drew near the /
gate. Thaw, standing a few feet away. /
a ppa rently uncOncerned, waited till !
Barnum unlocked the gate and swung /
it wide to let the milkman enter. At /
the same moment the two cars drew up |
on the further side of the road, oppo- |
site the gate and stood still, their en- |
gines throbbing.
AS Barnum stepped aside for the I
milkman to drive inside the grounds |
he heard the gravel crunch beneath |
Thaw's feet. and looking up, saw the |
madman flash past him, straight for |
one of the waiting cars With a shout, |
Barnum started in pursuit but fly |
ing leap landed Thaw safe within the I
car Before the keeper could fairly |
reach the roadway the ears spend in a
wl:irling cloud of dust that quickly |
blutted them from sight For a mo-
mcnt Barnum shaded his eyes with
his hand and watched them. then with |
the first great blot on his career of
20 years as keeper. he dashed madly
back into the ground and locked the /
gate.
Thaw's gone-escaped,' he shouted,