The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-19
Convicted of Offering $780,
600 to Doctor to Declare
Thaw Sane
HE FACES TEN
YEARS IN PRISON
Young Man Takes Verdict
Coolly-Will Be Sen
fenced Tuesday

New York, May l9.--John ~ Anhut
was convicted of attempted bribery Sat
urday night by the jury before which he
has been on trial in connection with an
attempt TO free Harry X. Thaw from
Matteawea by alleged Illegal means. The
young lawyer will be sentenced Tuesday
lby Supreme Court Justice Seabury. The
jury deliberated less than 21a hours.
They found that Anhut was guilty of
offering Dr. John w. Russell, former
head of the Matteawan state hospital
for the criminal insane $4,000 for the
release OF Stanford Whites slayer as
Dr. Russell had testified Thaw had
given Anhut $4,000 in stocks and cash,
To be spent to get him free. Anhuts de-
tense was that the money was contin-
gent fee only, to be returned in full if
Thaw did not have his liberty by July /
next and was to be used for legal meas
ures to obtain his clients release through
having him declared sane by alienists
who had not figured in Thaw's recurrent
efforts to leave Matteawan.
Anhut displayed calmness when the
verdict was brought in. He flushed
slightly, but answered evenly the ques
tions asked BY the clerk. He is 20 years
old and was bern in Michigan, where he
was once a state senator. He lives i'll
White plains, \. y. Anhut faces a max
imun penalty OF 10 years in prison and
a fine Of $500
Summing up both sides and Justice
obn q u 80
vi the trial. Assistant District Attorney
DE Ford for the prosecution, rehearsed
Thaw's unsuccessful attempts to get his
freedom. and declared that in the Anhut
case Thaw in desperation sought illegal
means to gain an end he could not ac.
complish legally. Anhut, he said, never
any case to earn Thaw's money
through court proceedings, but repre-
sented Thaw as briber and not as
counsel.
Thaw's insanity was dwet upon by
Arthur C. Palmer in summing up for An
hut. He asked the jury to disregard |
Thaw's testimony on the stand. in view |
Df his mental condition. He held that /
Anhnt was a victim OF eircum, tances |
brought about BY Thaw and DIR. Russell I
md had acted honestly as Thaw's eoun
,el.
Anhut's trial began Thursday. Thaw
md DR. Russell were chief witnesses for
he prosecution and Anhut for the de-
ense. Justice Seabury early overruled
objection by the defense that Thaw should
lot testify because he is legally insane,
nd in charging the jury yesterday the
curt said Thaw's testimony should he
dyen careful consideration Thaw said
N the stand that he sent Anhut $4,000
when the defendant told him he had
alkcd with DR.. Russell and that the
hysician had promised to see that Thaw
fas released. Dir, Russell in his test
nony said Anhut tried TO bride him
nth a 10000 offer, but that he replied
e would not release Thaw for money,
or to do so would be to sacrifice posi-
ION and honor
The defense during the trial sought to
how that Anhut had been promised
hat amounted to immunity prior to his
ppearance at Albany before Gov. Sui
er's committee that inyestigat ted the
rihe offer. Justice Seabury yesterday
irected the jury to disregard this al
ged immunity promise by the commit
,e. The Anhut ease was investigated
Y grand jury in New York after the
overnor. who forwarded a transcript
the proceedings to the district attor-
rvs office with a request that grand
nv action be taken.