New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-18
GLAD SAYS THE AUTHOR
OF WHO'S L0ONEY NOW?'
John Armstrong ChaIoner, Him.
self a Fugitive from New York
Asylum, Talks of Thaw.
NEVER HAD A REAL TRIAL
Slayer of Stanford White Sane
as Any Man Now, Asserts
Astor Grandson, Who Is
Safe in Virginia.
LBv Telegraph to Tho Tribune. !


Richmond, Va, Aug. 1T am glad
of it, said John Armstrong Chaloner.
rich Astor grandson, author Of Who's
looney now?' and who has been q
fugitive for several years at Merry
Mills, Va, from "A New York asylum
for the insane, when told tonight Of
Harry Kendall Thaw's escape from
Matteawan
I'm not friend of Harry Thaw nor
a friend of the idle rich class which he
represents" he said but ] am glad he
has escaped from the confines of Mat
teavan, because it was impossible for
him to get justice in New York. The
records of the case prove that.
II have watched the case from the
start to the finish and studied il from
it's inception, and, speaking as lawyer
and an authority on lunacy, | can say
to the world that Thaw never had fair
play from the start. l also say that
Thaw is to-day a sane as any man.
speak from a knowledge born Of walk
ing the wards in Bloomingdale for four
long years.
NO one can he deprived of his lib
erty under the Constitution Of the
United States without due process Of
law and trial by jury. Thaw never
had a trial by jury; he was always
tried by experts. the alienists, or by
Judge without A jury. His last rehear-
ing was before Judge Keogh, Of the
New York state Supreme Court, and
the Judge tried the case himself.
The re-establishment u the legal
principle of trial by jury of alleged
lunatics is my life work ] have spent
the last seventeen years on the work OF
bringing To the attention Of the public
the inadequate lunacy laws now in
force in many states, and | am per-
fectly willing 10 devote the remainder
Of my life to that end and 10 make sac
rifices Of my property that the worthy
Of the alleged lunacy class may re-
ceive justice and he restored 10 their
right position in life.
"Thaw was undoubtedly insane when
he shot Stanford White, but only dur
ing that moment. Never since. either
/ during his trial or subsequent incar-
ceration. has a single act u his been
/ that Of a mailman.
Il maintain said Mr. Cha,oner
that Judge Keogh, Of the New York
/ State Supreme Court, who presided
when Thaw's attorneys made their last
application for reirial thr ugh
habeas corpus proceedings. had ne
right TO sit on the bench IA the hearing.
for Judge Keogh was a connection %
marriage of Stanford White.
How do | know this? Because one
Of my x-sisters-note the 'eX'; I do u
! because | want to emphasize the gulf
which hope will always separate me
! from my kin-because one Of my ex-
sisters married a brother Of DevereuX
| Emmett This Deyereux Emmett
married a sister OF Mrs. Stanford
White and Judge Keogh married sis
! ter Of Devereux Emmett. | am sort
OF brother-in-law 10 Judge keogh, and
To Stanford White, too. FOR that mat
ter.
This relationship Of the presiding
Judge TO the man on trial before him
would be construed by any competent
authority as invaldating his right 10
preside. Hence, | claim that Harry
Thaw. as a lunatic, has never had a
fair trial. has never been tried by A
Jury. and in escaping from Matteawan
has brought about the liberty which Is
his by right Of the Constitution Of the
| United States