The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-18
Theatrical Escape of Thaw
Adds Another Chapter to
the Murder of Stanford
White in 1906 ,ss N
SEVERAL .a1EMPTS
MADE TO RELEASE
THAW FROM ASYLUM
White Killed While Attending Per-
formance at Madison Square Car
den by Thaw, Who immediately
Gave Himself up-Married
Evelyn Nesbit in 1905

New York, August 1.-THE theatrical
escape of Harry IL. Thaw from ,he state
hospital for the criminal insane at Mat
tenwan. adds another act to the sensa-
tfonai tragedy. which had its begin
-ing In New York city ON the night of
June 20. f0O6. On that occasion. in
company with his young wife, Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw, and two friends, Thaw
went 10 the Madison Square roof gar
den to witness the opening perform-
ance of a 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 arch
ltect of international fame, and his son.
The elder White was SO years old and in
his distinguished career had stamped on
many of New York city's prominent build
ings the mark of his artistic genius.
Madison Square Garden itself was one
of the architects triumphs, and he had
a studio in its tower
White Killed
In this setting Thaw drew revolver
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 no one
made an effort to intercept Thaw, who
for moment stood over his victims pros
trate body. Then he walked to the ele-
vator of the roof garden where he met
a house detective and handed over the
revolver without resistance.
rlsxx
man and while the officers hand was on
his shoulder Mrs. Thaw rushed up to her
husband and placed her arms around his
neck. Thaw assured his wife that it
would be "all right" and not to worry.
To this Mrs. Thaw rejolned Il did not
Il ink you would do it that wayl" ana
she added. Never mind, Harry. I'll stick
to you through thick and thin
Thaw at the time of the tragedy was
27 years old and was known as the
young sTsensiffr' * pailllcnaire from Pitts-
burg"
William Thaw. the father. was a poor
mechanic in Pittsburg and then made
small ventures in coal lands with increas-
ing good fortune He was said at one
time to be the heaviest individual owner
of the Pennsylvania railroad. When he
died his estate was said to be worth $780,
000000
BY the will Harry Thaw was allowed
$25o0 a year, but his mother increased
this to $4,000 annually.
Married in 1905
Evelyn Nesbit married Thaw III Pitts
burg April 4. 1905. She was noted
among artists for her beauty. and had
been in turn model and actress.
With Thaw in the Tombs, a legal fight
to free him began with his family's
millions behind formidable array of
Jfc firGf dol tod In,
disagreement. AT the second trial the
jury acquitted him on the charge of
murder ON the ground that he was in
sane when he shot White and Justice
Bowling committed Thaw to Matteawan
as an insane criminal
He entered the asylum February s,
1908. Since then the Thaw family has
spent a sum estimated at 100000 in
efforts to have Thaw declared sane and
set at liberty.
Attempts at Release
In May, 1908, Supreme Court Justice
Morschauser decided against an attempt
to release Thaw on habeas corpus pro-
ceedings In June, 1909, a similar writ
met the same adverse result. this time
before Justice Mills. The case then went
to the state court of appeals, which
sustained the decision of the lower
court. A third effort in July, 1919, re-
suited in Justice Keogh agreeing with
the other supreme court justices that
Thaw still was insane.
There was a scandal recently over
alleged attempts to engineer Thaw's
release through the attempted bribery
of DR.. John w. Russell. former su-
perintendent of the Matteawan hos
pital. An inquiry resulted in the In
dictment of John N. Anhut, a young
New York attorney, employed. by Thaw
On May II, last Anhut was found
guilty of offering Dr. Russell a $780,
600 bribe and was sentenced TO from
two to four years at Sing Sing. The
present superintendent at Matteawan,
DR.. Raymond C. Keib, was appointed af-
ter DR.. Russell, resigned.
Jerome Has No Statement
Lakeville, Conn.,, August 1.-THE
news OF the escape of Harry Thaw from