The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-18
MOTHER IS GLAD
OF SONS ESCAPE
Mrs. Mary Copley Thaw Says 1t
Came as Surprise
TO Her.
CONSENTS TO INTERVIEW
Expects to Hear From Harry
When He Reaches Safe
Place.
CONSENTS TO INTERVIEW
Especial to The Times Dlspatch.l


am sorry" was the comment nude
tonight by Mrs. Mary Copley Thaw
on the sensational fight of her son
from Matteawan.
Mrs. Thaw had at first refused to see
reporters. but later consented to ro-
ceive them.
i was never more astonished in my
life than whom heard Of this thing at
o'clock this afternoon" she continued
1 learned OF II from my daughter
t3rs Carnegie), who heard OF II
through the newspapers. 1 have not
the slightest Idea how it all happened,
nor can guess where Harry is now.
Il suppose no will communicate with
me az soon as no gets whore ne Is safe.
he is too intelligent to take any
chances before he does reach a safe
place Further than the frag1nentary
reports from newspaper men, know
nothing. 1 have a letter which Harry
wrote saturday morning. and he said
nothing about intending to leave"
The letter was a plain sheet of
paper. such as Is used by stenogra-
piers Everything but the signature
Is typewriter. and II ia dated August
10. no year being appended.
In the centre of the sheet a space
sufficient to hold a large PARAGRAPH
has been cut out. Tho pieces were
then fastened together with small
green seals.
Explains MutiIntion.
In response to a question, Mrs Thaw
explained the mutIlation of the letter.
:! cut that out" she said. because IL
referred to two men. lawyers. whom /
had never heard OF before. 1t had
q yyi
She refused to name the men or to
show the missing portion OF the letter
In It's incomplct. form. the letter fol-
lows:
Mrs. siary c. Thaw. Hotel Gotham.
Sew York:
Dear Moher.-Mr. Van AIMEE told
me that you are starting I'm glad it's
not very not, ana hope you have an
easy trip. y couple of days ago /
wrote you. and expect the letter
reached you before you left home. Tie
only Thing immediate was 10 ask you
to telephone 10 Sir. Shearn's office and
learn just when he gets back"
paragraph vas cut out here and
tile letter continues.
Il hope Margaret and George return
safe ana we'll. That was curious about
copenhaged. when they were given
reception. cas- though II was Uncle An
drew The paper that j saw said that
Georges appearance was very good, but
"Will they come with YOU or later?
1t is better may be TO divide the visits.
II you don't feel very Well Monday,
please postpone the visit for il is better
10 take things easy.
Your anecuonate son,
HARRY"
The signature was written in pencil,
in remarkably small letters.
That doesn't look like Harry's usual
signature" said one OF the reporters.
Ueif "A Afro
Thaw. going to a desk and taking cut
several letters. Yes. the same" she
said. only larger"
The envelope was not shown nor
were the reporters allowed TO compare
the signature with those on the let
tcrs
Harry Is in the comrnissary depart
ment." you know. said Mrs. Thaw when
asked if her son had the use OF type
writer. Il suppose he wrote this while
he was at work and had nothing eiso
handy. II doesn't look as If he intend
ed TO leave before / came"
DO you know whether he ever con-
sidered the plan Of escaping By force?"
Mrs. Thaw waE asked.
People have mentioned II to him."
she replied He had plenty of oppor-
tunitics during the hearings and sew
eral people said To him, Why don't you
take leg bail but he always re-
fused to consider it then Never. in
have we discussed the possibilities of
escape through any other means than
the law.
Calls Russell Perjurer.
Isn't it about time that he got out
of there-a sane man, proved so before
the courts, confined with a lot of luna
tics in an asylum for the criminal in
sane. / think 1t is and he would have
been out before II 1t had not been for
that perjurer, DR.. Russell.
1T was that mans testimony that
kept him there the last time he tried
TO get free"
Have you any idea who the men
were that were with Harry" she was
asked.
Isn't there relative OF Harry's in
New England?"
"Only Andrew Carnegie, the young
er, and he isn't the sort of a man to
mix up in an affair OF this sort" Mrs.
Thaw answered "He has a place In
Massa chusetts. but / don't suppose
that he heard of this would be in
terestcd In 1t If he did.
las to Roger O'Mara, so far as
know, he is In Pittsburgh. 1 haven't
heard from him recently and don't
know where he is, but I am almost
certain that he is In Pennsylvania
Harry has plenty of friends In New
York, some of whom go up to see
him.
"Can you tell me why 1T Is they offer
II reward OF $500 for Harry? The regu-
lar amount is only $50, and I've seen
1t collected time and again by per
sons who brought back escaped
inmate 1 suppose it's because 1t
makes n bigger show, and they want
to make a bigger fuss about n sane
man like Harry than they do when a
lunatic goes awandcring away o..
course, 1t will induce more people to
try to find him."
The following telegram was received
at Matteawan this afternoon from Mrs
Copley Thaw to her son:
''Have seen Margaret and George. All,
right Will see you soon"
The names referred to Thnw's sister
and brother law, but the rest OF
the message might he regarded as
somewhat puzzlins in view of the later
Developments.