The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-16
THAW TEST|F|ESA AS
TO ALLEGED bR|bE
OFFERED BY ANHUT
Tells of Visits Paid Him By
Anhut at Matteawan in
1912-Rigid Cross
Examination

| New York MAY 15.-Dr. John w Rus
| sell. former superintendent of Matteawan
State Hospital for the Criminal Insane,
| first made the suggestion to Harry *.
Thaw that he could be released by the
payment Of a large sum, Thaw testified
| today al the bribery trial of John ".
Anhut here. Anhut, a young attorney, is
charged with offering DIR. Russell bribe
| OF $4,000 for an order or certificate which
would result in freeing Thav from fur
ther confinement.
Thaw. brought from Matteawan, was
subjected to rigid examination and cross
examination. Objections of counsel for
the defense that Thaw, legally insane,
was not competent to testify were over
ruled by the court, who, however, held
that his testimony must be considered as
that of an insane person.
Thaw told Of several visits paid to him
by Anhut at Metteawan in 1912. when ne
declared Anhnt said he would get me
discharged"
II asked if Dr. Russell had settled on
something de- nits.a said Thaw. san9 be
(AnhuD said he had, and l said the
money was much more than expected
to pay; that l was not in position
where | could pay it,"
Under cross examination Thaw said
that in all he had spent $4,000 and no
more in efforts to secure his release from
Matteawan. This sum. he said. was ex-
elusive of the expenses of his two trials
for the killing of Stanford White.
IT was pretty well swindled on my
two trials acre" Thaw declared THE
costs were something tremendous"
The witness said that during a conver-
alton with Anhut questions of raising
the money were discussed and that a
week later he secured 140 shares of
Gas company stock valued at about s20,-
600 and $4,000 cash from his sister, Mrs.
George l.. Carnegie.
"Were not the securities to be turned
over to Anhut?' Thaw was asked.
mo, they were to be turned over to
DR. Russell We had arranged every
thing before I ever saw Anhut."
$25, 900 Consideration
Thaw declared that his agreement with
Anhut called for the return of all or
part of the s25,Oe0 if he did not walk
out Oh the uOOI VI tut dSN Iuiu VI was
not released by the court by specified
dates. He said Anhut paid him back
sl4,7O0 of the $500 on January l last,
when the plan had failed.
During cross-examination Thaw object
ed to being called Harry" saying his
name was Henry
Are YOU the Henry X. Thaw who
shot and killed White?' the witness was
asked
''Yes"--in a low voice
"Did you intend to kill him.
'"This Is a question outside the issue
and | refuse to answer"
Justice Seabury declined to direct the
witness to answer.
Thaw said he anxious TO get out
of Matteawan. but in doing so he did
not desire to injure anyone. He did not
see Anhut an attorney ror himself, he
said but as attorney for DIR. Russell He
added that he understood the receipts for
the gas stocks and $1,000 in cash were
written by DR.. Russell
"Anhut," Thaw testified. said Dr. Rus
sell had to have all the money before he
would do anything.
This testimony was brought out in con-
nection with the alleged preliminary ne
gotiations conducted by Anhut previous
to the time Thaw testified he obtained
the gas stock and cash from his sister
Friendly Terms
The witness said he still was on friendls
terms with DIR. Russell. He denied that
he had ever received any unusual fa-
vors In the asylum. Counsel for Anhut
asked II the cause for his friendship
for Russell was the alleged plan for his
release.
1T was all arranged Thaw repeated.
"but not in the cause of our mutual
friendship Anhut was his lawyer to con-
clude arrangements, for it was under
stood that If Russell released me right
off it might arouse criticism"
DR.. Russell resigned as superintendent
at Matteawan shortly after Governor
Sulzer sent Col. Joseph F. Scott, then
superintendent of prisons. a letter de-
manding DR.. Russell's removal. The
governors action resulted from disclo-
sures in an investigation of the matter
at Albany, at his instgation, last Feb
ruary.
Court was adjourned until tomorrow
Immediately following the announcement
that Thaw testimony was concluded.
Thaw was taken back to Matteawan to-
oh >