New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-18
THAW VERY DANGEROUS,
RE!TERATES DR.. FLINT
AIieniSt Declares Fugitive Is
Sure to Drink. and That
Drink May Mean Murder.
BLAMES ASYLUM METHOD
Is Certain There Was Collision,
but Absolves New Superin-
tendent Doesn't Think
Runaway Will Return.

Runaway Will Return.
Or Austin Flint. an alienist, who has
! figured very prominently In connection
with Harry X. Thaw's repeated attempts
to obtain mis- liberation from the Mattea-
wan Asylum. reiterated his belief yes
terday that Thaw would be a menace to
any community in which he might be
I found and said further that Thaw $
escape could be laid to mismanagement at
Matteawan.
! In an interview published in The Trib-
une OF March ~ in which Or. Flint
/ charged that the Matteawan manage
ment was under the beck and call of
/ Thaw the doctor said that Thaw could
escape at any time. At that time Thaw
declared he did not want TO escape
though ne had taken every privilege ex-
cepting his freedom.
Just how dangerous is Thaw?" DR..
| Flint was asked AS soon as he takes a
drink" said the doctor. he is apt 10
commit murder. and ne is certain to
begin 10 drink You can draw your own
conclusions"
d
the Thaw case has been active IN the
efforts to bring about better conditions
at Matteawan. was one OF the hrst 10
/ learn OF the escape Of Thaw. because Dr.
| Raymond g. Kieb. superintendent al
| Natteawan. telephoned to him immedi-
ately
"Thaw must have got out through the
ward" said DR. Flint Though the "ard
IS always locked. Thaw probably prioeu
somebody. presumably n keeper. he had
ten minutes start. and ne was only SIX
too, mlIes away from the Connecticut
line reaching which he was free man
through the faults OF our law.
DR. Flint said that he had urged the aP-
noiutment OF Or Amos T. Baker as as
slstant Superintendent OF Mattea"ah anu
that ne believed II his advice had teeh
followed Thaw would still be In custody.
/ He said. however. that he did not want
10 place the blame on the present super
; iutepdcnt who rad hardly had uine l"
iearn the situation at the asylum.
II predicted at that time to Or. Baker.
said Dr. Flint. that some great trouo''
would occur at Matte1Van. In the IN
s,itutlou there are at least hfty turpu'e"'
and hlehly dangerous inmates. br- baKe'
knows all these men thoroughly. and pr'
t,i.b did not Or Bakers assistance 10
/ Dr Kieb would have been Invaluable
and IN ms opinion n Or. kieo had ac-
certsd my proposition Harry ~ ma"
would sim be IN MatteaWan.
3 NV interest IN Matteawan. II is unne'-
CESAR, 10 saw. f. undated. There rs stu
a remedy for the unfortunate conditions
/ I'm that institution. ]; u more man " t'
/ evident that Or Baker Is the only hVan-
able man who has knowledge. experience
and strongly Of character 10 effect re-
/ organization.
DIR Kieb's three months of probation
do not expire until September. " pr.
. Rakcr could b induced 10 accept me
position Of medical superintendent the
/ rrosent permanent dificulty would prac-
/ tically be solved.
81 say this with no dlsrespect 10 Dr.
Kieb. who is eminently well qualihed 20
conduct Nattesvan when II snail ne
brought into its former condition OF e'-
I fiction, management But he can not and
could not know all the dangerous In
mates.
The escape OF Thaw has been que
presumably not 20 his culpable negligence
but mainly to the fact that he was mex
perienced In such difficult questions as MS
treatment. and he had under his charge
a highlv dangerous homicidal paranoiac
with abundant money necessarily IN the
custody OF poorly paid employees. VINO
could not be expected 10 resist the inhu-
ence which he has been able 10 bring TO
bear upon them.
Il know these inmates fairly well TOT
I examined them. in connection with pr.
Carlos F. Macdonald in April. 1871 ana
I know full well the difficulties which any
superi,tendent OF Matteawan Is sure 20
experience.
Dr Flint was asked whether he would
applv for a permit 10 carry n revolver
now that Thaw has escaped. His atten-
tion was called TO "A statement 10 this
effect ne made prior TO the last Whlte
Plains hearing.
81 said" ne replied II would apply for
revolver permit provided Thaw was I'D
Grated by the courts ! have no rear tlat
no will return 10 the State Of New YORK
rrov,ded ne l. outside Of its Jurisdiction
ANYWAY. I am an old man and maven
many years left