New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-08
IGNORANT OF BRIBERY,
DECLARES A. /. LEWIS
Writer Tells Suffers Commit.
tee He Knew Nothing of Re-
ported Offer in ThaW Case.
WAS ASKED TO VISIT HIM
Explains His Relations with the
Prisoner - Investigators
Finish Hearing and Work
on Their Report.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune !

lBy Telegraph TO The Trbune.l
Albany. March 7.-Governor Suffers IN.
vestigating committee completed the tax.
ing OF testimony this afternoon. when
Alfred Henry Lewis, a magazine writer
was questioned concerning his relation,
with Harry X. Thaw.
The committee is now working on n.
final report, which will be ready soma
time next week. II has already presented
to the Governor its report concernine
Colonel Joseph F. Scott, superintendent,
of prisons. who incurred Mr.. Suffers dis.
pleasure by refusing 10 appoint Charles
f. Rattigan, a Thomas Mott Osborne nro.
tege, warden OF Auburn prison to succeed
George W. Benham.
Governor Sulzer said he would not sivs
out the report until he had carefuIiv
studied its contents. 1t has been expected
ever since the committee began its work
that charges would be made against tho
superintendent of prisons. Friends Of
Colonel Scott declare he will put I'D 4
hard fight should the committees recon. /
mendations cause Mr.. Sulzer TO act ad-
versely to him. If the report does not
IeCOIHHiSHu Sudi6 to dSdlISt CCOtL tlAi
matter will be put squarely up to the
Governor, and this, It Is understood, ne
seeks to avoid
Alfred Henry Lewis told the committse
he believed Thaw was sane and that he
knew nothing except what he had read
in the newspapers about the story that
John N. Anhut, a New York lawyer, had
offered a bribe Of $4,000 to John w. Rus.
sell, superintendent Of Matteawan Hos.
pital. TO release Thaw.
He was asked by John T. Norton, ths
committees attorney to tell of his cou-
nection with the Thaw matter I'm his own
words.
Asked 20 Visit Thaw.
well, possibly six weeks ago." said
Lewis. "the first heard from Mr. Thsw
In this connection, at any rate. was from !
Mr. Holman. Thaw's agent, who test. |
fled here. He came 10 my house and said
that Ex-Governor william A. Stone OF
Pennsylvania wanted to talk with me-
met Governor Stone the following Friday
evening at the Imperial Hotel. He said
he had been the attorney for the Thaw
FAMILY fOr NUMBER or years.
"He had been up TO Matteawan 10 visit
Thaw. and he said: Lewis, II Thaw isn't
sane. then I'm not sane He seemed 10
think that the currents OF ink have al
ways run against Thaw, that he has got
the worst OF II in the papers, that people
have thought him crazy and kept it up.
and that, at any rate, II would be a good
49, o$l, i,,n, ~. a.
way"
Lewis said that Stone told him he did
not want him 10 take his opinion Of Thaw,
suggesting that he visit the prisoner him
self and come to his own conclusion as to
his sanity. He said he wrote TO Governor
Sulzer asking permission to visit Mat.
teawan without mentioning Thaw's name.
and that he got a general letter Of intro
duction to Superintendent Russell.
While sitting In the Office OF the asylum.
Lewis said, he asked DR.. Russell II Thsw
were crazy. - .sf.t
We'll. that's a question:" he said Dr..
Russell replied. ri
About that time" continued Lewis. (
"Thaw came In. and could see that
there was no hostility between the doctor
and Mr.. Thaw. 1t seemed a case o. COM
rades''
Concluded Thaw Was Sane.
Lewis said that after talking with Thsw
for while he came TO the CONCLUSION
that he was sane As his opinion would
not go very far IN a magazine article. no
went on. he asked the prisoner II he
would let Drs. OSullivan and Kennedy
look him over. to which Thaw scquiesced
Both these doctors. Lewis said, declares
Thaw sane after the examination. Wien
DR.. O'Sullivan learned from Or. Russell
that Thaw's case was diagnosed "a,
paranoia he declared that parano!c wss
dying man. and that IL Thaw had thaa
ailment he would be dead by this tine.
There Is nothing to do for Thsw. 10
Is all right" DIR. Russell told DR.. o'SuH'
van. according to the witness. =
Lewis said that when he first read OF
the bribery offer in the papers he saw
that William l.. Clark the Commuters
secretary, had furnished the Information
and that he asked Clark where he got It.
Never mind; got IT, was not theN
for fun." he said Clark replied. Don't
you think II a pretty good sleuthing ,oo'
Russell did. at any rate" the witness
said he replied.
Lewis testified that on visiting Thaw
second time he asked why he did mol
make his escape II he had so many
chances and privileges. Thaw replied thar
he wanted to get out legally, saying ne
did not want to be a fugitive from Jusuce
the rest Of his life. -.
People argue that my family is rich.
Lewis said Thaw told him, but the rutn
IL there Il 500 to keep me locked up tor
every dollar any Thaw I ever knew u
owned"
Thaw's Story OF Money
When Lewis asked Thaw whore this
money was he replied
1T is those two circles of desenerates
that | unearthed around 22d street anu
2ith street. Those people have always
been very much afraid I might get out
think II should be emphasized IN any
magazine article that the money is assihsss
me-. You will see II sticking out It's htau
at Utica at the Bar Association mee,ns,
In the Senate and ASSEMBLY. where ther.
Is IA bill to tie me hand and foo,' "
doesn't mention me, but Il hits me: -.
In answer TO questions Lewis salu . ,no
800 which Clark used In making the UP
to Utica, where the Bar Association wa
meeting. was given to Lewis by ih,sa"t
and that he gave II to Clark. lie couiu"'
go and he asked Clark to make the trip
Asked IL Thaw paid him any money ia
agreed to pay him any money ior "'
trouble, Mr.. Lewis replied:
II am not an eleemosynary institution