The San Francisco call., 1913-08-24
Dominion Minister of Justice
May Be Only Person to
Cut Tangle-Harry Quar-
rels With Counsel and
Reads Law-The Defense
Awaits Roger O'Mara,
Detective and Guardian
JEROME IS ABSENT
CHAMPION OF STATE
Special Prosecutor. Hastens
to Canada-Contest May
Be Duel With O'Mara-
Matteawan Fugitive SCOTS
at Old Enemy and Derides
Advisers-He Talks Lo-
quaciously About Plight

SHERBRooKE. Quebec. Aug "a
Harry X Thaw, squabbling with the
dominion's leading lawyers retained to
prevent his return to the Matteawan
state hospital for the criminal insane,
from which he escaped last Sunday
morning. was tonight apparently as
much in ignorance of the next move
in the case as the casual idler around
the Sherbrooke jail.
For two hours his counsel conferred
this afternoon, debating whether they
would produce Thaw in court on a writ
of habeas corpus next Wednesday or
abandon the writ, surrender him to the
immigration authorities and counten-
ance his deportation to Vermont,
procedure to which it was said here
the immigration officers had agreed.
The two hour talk was preceded by
conference with Thaw as to his prefer
ence, but 1t resulted in no definite deci-
sion.
GUARDIAN ON WAY
Tha wwas loquacious, erratic, domi-
neering. and it was decided to await
the arrival of Roger OMara of Pitts
burg, Thaw's detective-guardian. Ac-
cording to the understanding here he
viii arrive tomorrow night by way of
Montreal. /.
Never in the history of the province
of Quebec, or the dominion of Canada,
for that matter. has such a legal snarl
within snarI. case within case, been
before the courts.
In brief, Thaw is held on a commit
ment charging him with being fugi-
tive from Matteawan. where 'he was
confined on criminal charge This
is an error. Acquitted of Stanford
whites murder on the ground of in
sanity. he was held there on no charge,
but as lunatic.
HABEAS CORPUS EASY
Both sides have admitted that the
commitment is defective and it was
conceded that he would be released on
the writ when arraigned. Why not,
then, Thaw's lawyers were asked by
the immigration authorities, cancel. as
it were. all your objections TO his being
held. turn him over to US have a hear
ing in Coaticook, where he was first
locked up after crossing the boun-
dary, and we will deport him to Yer
mont? 1t viii then be up to New
York state to extradite him.
But the agents OF the immigration
authorities here are subordinates, and
Thaw's lawyers believe that the final
decision in the matter of deportation
viii come from the minister of the fnte-
rior who is at present in Vancouver on
his vacation. Facing such predicament,
it was said tonight that the habeas
corpus hearing would be held Wednes-
day, as previously set.
"WAIT FOR ROGER
Another possibility was suggested.
Thaw would come into court, plead not
guilty to the present charge and de-
mand trial. This. 1t was said, might not
take place until the October term of
court.
How about it?" Thaw was asked.
Walt for Roger" he said
O'Mara was thus literally the missing
keystone in the Thaw forces tonight,
and William T. Jerome. Thaws old
enemy ana prosecutor, was the missing
general of the New York forces. 1t was
said here that Jerome, retained by the
New York attorney generals depart
ment would arrive Sunday.
e Thaw did not appear particularly dis
turbed when told Jerome was hurry
ings here.
so Willie's coming" he said For
once In my life I have lawyers who
have no tremendous amount of ability,
but 1 am able to confer with them.
have never had lawyer except Delmas,
and maybe couple of others. who were
worth more than s25 a day.
"THINGs ON JEROME
"A clique of Sanford Whites friends
have always pursued and they have
pursued me up here. But their in1u-
ence is waning Public opinion in New
York and elsewhere is steadily grow
ing more favorable to me. Canadians
are learning that New York is trying
TO treat Canada as little principality.
But after ALL 1 think 1t was wiser to
have come to Canada instead of enter
ing Pennsylvania
We'll, / hope Jerome has good
time here l have a lot of things on
Jerome / was going to spring them
ct White Plains in 1908. but decided
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