Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-23
HARRY X. THAW ESCAPES
PASSES GUARD AT MATTEAWAN
INSANE ASYLUM AND LEAPS
INTO AUTOMOBILE.
SHORT HISTORY OF THE CASE
The Slayer Of Stanford White, " He
Once Gets Outside Of State,
Will Be Free-Assisted
by Confederates.

Matteawan, n. Y.-Harry X. Thaw.
the slayer of Stanford White. escaped
from the Hospital for the Criminal In
sane at 7:45 O'Clock Sunday morning.
A dash for liberty through an open
gate, a leap into the open door OF a
powerful automobile that stood CULVER
ing outside and a flight like rocket
for the Connecticut State line, thirty
miles away. accomplished his escape.
History of Case.
The theatrical escape of Harry X.
Thaw adds another act to the sensa-
tional tragedy which had its begin
ming in New York City on the night
of June %. 1906. On that occasion, in
company with his young wife, Evelyn
Nesbt Thaw. and two friends, Thaw
went to the Madison Square roof gar
den To witness the opening perform
ance of musical comedy.
Near the close of the performance
Thaw left his seat and began TO pace
back and forth in the aisle behind the
seat occupied by Stanford White, an
architect of international game, and
his son. The older White was SO years
old and in his distinguished career
had stamped on many of New York
City's prominent buildings the mark
of his artistic genius.
Killing Of White.
Madison Square Garden itself was
one of the architects triumphs, and
he had a studio in its tower.
In this setting Thaw drew a re
volver and fired three bullets into
Stanford Whites body. The architect
died almost instantly.
1t is believed White did not see his
slayer. In the ensuing confusion nc
one made an effort to intercept Thaw
who, for a moment, stood over his vic
tins PROSTATE body. Then he walked
to the elevator of the roof garden
where he met a house detective ant
handed over the revolver without re
sistance. ,St44#
Thaw was then arrested by pc
! liceman and while the officers hanC
was on his shoulder Mrs. Thaw rushed
up to her husband and placed he
arms around his neck. Thaw assured
| his wife that it would be "all right
and not to worry.
To this Mrs Thaw rejoined:
Il didn't think you would do it tina
way" and she added, "Never mind
Harry, I'll stick to you through thicl
and thin"
At Age of 81.
Thaw at the time of the tragedy wa
/ 81 years old and was known as tn
young spendthrift millionaire froI
Pittsburg."
William Thaw, the father, was
poor mechanic in Pittsburg3 who mad
small adventures in, coal lands wit
increasing fortune.
He was said at one time to be tn
heaviest individual owner of the Penn
-sylvania railroad When he died hi
estate was reputed worth $40,OOO,OO'
By the will Harry Thaw was above
$4,000 a year. but his mother il
creased this to $4,000 annually,
Evelyn Nesbit married Thaw i
Pittsburg April 4, 1905. She wa
noted among artists for her beaut
and had been in turn model an
actress.
With Thaw in the Tombs. a leg;
fight to free him began, with his fan
ily's millions behind formidable a
ray of counsel. His first trial resul
ed in a disagreement. At the secon
trial the jury acquitted him of tn
charge of murder on the ground tia
he was insane when he shot Whit
and Justice Bowling committed Tha
to Matteawan as an insane crimina
Entered Asylum in 1908.
He entered the asylum February
1908. Since then the Thaw fami
has spent a sum estimated at $4,000
in efforts to have Thaw declared sar
and cot at libprty