Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-18
Slayer of Stanford White
Makes Escape From
Matteawan Asylum.
BOARDS WAITING AUTO
Walks Through Gates During
Morning Visit of MiIkman-
Guard Arrested.

New York, Aug. 18.-Mrs Harry
Copiey Thaw, mother of Harry Thaw,
who escaped from Matteawan asylum
yesterday, received at noon today a
letter from her sol that he planned
to take a rest before going TO the
Thaw country place, Elmhurst, at Cres.
son Springs, Pa.
The letter was postmarke1 New
YORK, Aug. II, II D. m, Station O."
inside on a long slip Of paper was
Ihaw's communication written in pen-
Gil as follows:
"All well, viii take a rest before
going to Elmhurs:, as | might be
tsked Tor interviews. Do not wish to
refuse, yet do not care to make any
statements. Hope NJ. and G. (Mr.
and Mrs. George Lauder Carnegie)
VIII arrive safe and that you all 20
home together. Have sent short note
10 Journal. (Signed),
II. K. T"
The fugitive had apparently intend.
ed sending the foregoing by telegraph.
or night letter, for it was so marked.
He must have changed his mind. how.
ever, and gave it % some one 20 mail
for him. Whoever did this addressed
It in ink in a scrawly, unlettered
hand.
APPROVES SONS COURSE
Giving out the letter, Mrs Thaw ex-
planned II was in her sons handwrit.
ing, and for that reason she knew il
came from him. She added she did
net know where he wss today. or.
--r-hen he would 80 10 Cresson. How.
ever, ! leave New York for Elmhurst
at 9:25 tomorrow morning." she add.
ed.
Then you think your son regards
himself safe in Pennsylvania" she
was asked.
i an not a mind reader, smiled
Mrs. Thaw, but, approve whatever
he thslks best. His escape was a com.
plete surprise to me. and while rather
high handed piece of work, | must
say 1t was exceedingly neat. l am de-
lighted"
In order TO relieve my mind Of any
doubt whether Harry can be brought
back 10 New York from Pennsylvania,
] viii consult counsel" said Mrs. Thaw
this afternoon. Il don't want Harry
to jeopardize himself in coming to
Elmhurst."
New York. Aug. 1S.-Harry K.
Thaw has enjoyed one day OF freedom
and probably never again will be con-
fined within the jurisdiction of the
New York authorities who held him
10 be an insane man since he killed
Stanford White in this city the night
OF June 20. 1906 His well planned
escape from Matteawan during the
milkman's visit early Yesterday morn.
ing is believed to have placed him out.
side the state. where he is a free man
unless the authorities in the place TO
which he fed deem h.m a madman in
their midst.
FOR STRONGER VERDICT.
Lawyers seem unanimous today IN
the opinion that there is positively no
hope for extradition If he is found in
any other state. Up 20 an early hour
today there was no definite informa-
uon as 10 Thaw's movements after
the automobile which he escaped in
was seen at Stormviile 13 miles east
OF Matteawan. The belief that Thaw
Is altogether safe from extradi;ion is
backed officially in many quarters.
District Attorney Whitman in answer
to an inquiry, telegraphed from Bre;-
ton Woods. n H.; "Thaw was &C
Quilted ana there is no Indictment
pending against him in New York. He
cannot be eXtradited"
II Is & coincidence that the New
Nork State Bar association is now
contending for notifications OF YER
o!c,s IN such cases as Thaw's. The
statutory verdict in the case Of the
person who has committed murder
and who is proved to have oeeu III
sane at the time is Not guilty by rea.
son of insanity. according TO the pres
ent law. The bar association has
been vigorously pressing for a statu.
tory verdict such as guilty, but in
sane as provided in England. where
such a person is a criminal and can
be recovered by extradition.
BEYOND STATE BORDERS.
That Thaw is beyond the borders Of
the state is regarded as certain. With
The Connecticut state line 80 miles
from the asylum walls. and Thaw and
his conspirators travelling in an auto
mobile more than co miles an hour.
reaching Of Connecticut was a matter
Of 30 minutes or less. The theory that
he boarded yacht at South Norwalk,
Conn, was not borne out today. On
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