New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-26
ANHUT GOT BIG FEE,
BUT WILL DENY "BR|BE'
Accused Lawyer Ready to Tell
About His Relations with
DR.. Russell and ThaW.
TO FACE PR0BERS TO-DAY
His Counsel Says When Full
Story Is Told 1t Will Put
the Scandal in a Diff
ferent Light.

John Nicholson Anhut. whom Dr.
Russell, superintendent of Matteawan
Asylum for the Criminal Insane. named
before the Sulzer inquiry commission
as the lawyer who offered him 500
600 bride TO release Harry Is. Thaw
from the asylum. is expected To tell the
whole story of his relations with Thaw
and DR. Russell before the commission
to-day. Clifford L. Beare, of No. 90
Wall street, who shares Offices with
Anhut at that address. said yesterday
that he would accompany Anhut 10 AL
bany to-day for that purpose and APP
pear as his counsel.
In the absence of his client yester-
day Mr.. Beare consented to speak for
him and outline some of the testimony
which, ne said. Anhut would give. Mr..
Beare said that Anhut was keeping
under cover" because he did not want
10 talk prior to his appearing before the
commission.
He said that he was in conference
with his client until 3 o'clock yester-
dav morning Anhut had never re-
ceived money from Thaw for the pur-
pose Of bribery, he said, and had never
offered a dollar to DR.. Russell. Anhut |
would be able to clear himself entirely
of the accusations made by Dr. Rus
sell, he said
Was Retained by Thaw.
Anhut had received retainer from /,
Thaw, his counsel said, and would tell |
how much it was. He met Thaw |
through Dr. Russell at White Plains, |
subsequent to the hearing on the writ
of habeas corpus, when Thaw made his
last attempt to gain his release through |
the courts last June.
Mr.. Beare said Anhut had discussed |
the Thaw case with DR. Russell, whom !
he met at he Carlyon Arms Hotel. at |
White Plains, during the habeas corpus |
proceedings, and haG BECOME very |
friendly with the Matteawan superin- |
tendent. Thaw wanted to change |
counsel and make a new fight for his !
release. Mr.. Beare said, and DR.. Rus |
sell recommended Anhut as a good |
lawyer to represent him in future pro- !
ceedings Anhut would admit that he |,
had met DR.. Russell several times in !
this city and had entertained him as a
friend. the lawyer said. but had never
talked money" to Dr. Russell in re-
gard 10 Thaw's release.
Mr. Anhut will tell OF all his rela
lions 10 Thaw and Russell far as he
is permitted" said Mr. Beare. There
may be some matters which would be
regarded as confidential between him
and his client Thaw, but they do not
appear to be material 10 the accusa-
lions made against Anhut. OF course.
he will deny that he paid or offered any
bride.
1t was Thaw's idea 10 get All entirely
new set OF aIienists and make another
tight TO prove his sanity in the courts,
and he retained Mr.. Anhut and gave
him a substantial fee to represent him
in such proceedings. When the new
plan did not progress rapidly enough to
satisfy Thaw, Thaw called the whole
matter on
Tsxioab Trips with D.. Russell.
Mr.. Besre said he was not at liberty
10 20 into detail as 10 the reasons why
Thaw changed his mind in regard to
his future plans after he had retained
Anhut. He suggested that probably
Anhut would testify on that point He
said his client would have no hesltancy
about admitting a familiar relation
with Or. Russell and that he had taken
long taxicab rides with the Matteawan
sIperlntendent in New York, and at
one time went 10 the Horse Show with
him. as Or. Russell testified
Asked II Anhut admitted that he met
Or. Russell at the Grand Union Hotel
and went with him TO the Savoy Hotel,
and that they dined afterward AT the
Plaza Hotel, as Dr. Russell testified.
Mr.. Reare said that his client had not
mentioned those instances.
Mr. Anhut Will tell the commission
that he is not acquainted with Gov
ernor sulzer. Colonel J. #. Scott, SUI
nerintendent OF State Prisons. or with
w. +. Clarke. who was secretary OF the
Sulzer INQUIRY commission, according
10 Mr.. Beare.
While entering a most emphatic de-
NAL TO the substantial parts OF DR..
Russers story. Anhut might enlarge
upon some details which would put the
affair in an entirely different light, ms
counsel said. Soon after Anhut had
been retained by Thaw disquieting ru-
mors began TO be heard from certain
sources. and some one got cold feet,
Mr. Beare said. The lawyer declined
TO say what the "rumors' were or
where they came from. II was under
stood that Anhut might clear up those
points on the witness stand.
When Thaw saw that no satsfac-
tory progress was being made he Is
said TO have informed Alfred Henry
Lewis that he had been "bled" and
that he was tired Of 1t. Lewis COM !,
municated Thaws complaint TO Clarke, !
and the present scandal was the up !
shot it was said.
Thaw Wanted Western AIienists.
Referring TO the circumstances which |
ed up TO Anhut's retainer from Thaw, |
MIR. Beare said that it was Thaw's plan |