Evening star., 1914-12-22
THAW MAY FIGHT
TO PROVE SANITY
Friends Believe Opportunity
Will Come on Arrival
in New York.
PLANS OF HIS COUNSEL
NOW CLOSELY GUARDED
Further Move to Delay Removal
From New Hampshire Is
One Possibility.

| MANCHESTER. n. H. December 22.-
| Harry K. Thaw soon will make another
| fight to establish his sanity, in the
| opinion of several acquaintance. The
| opportunity, they confidently expect
| will be afforded when Thaw is returned
to New York state to answer the in
dictment charging conspiracy to escape
! from the insane asylum at Matteawan.
The plans of the fugitive's counsel are
closely guarded, but it WAS fntimated
today that the efforts of the New York
! authorities to prove Thaw was COM
petent to commit an illegal act might
be forced by the defense to point
where the evidence could be used to
prove that he was absolutely sane.
Thaw, it was said, was constantly in
touch with his chief counsel. former Sec
retary of State Philander c. Knox. who
was at his country home at Valley Forge,
Pa, today. Thaw's secretary fntimated
that Mr.. Knox might come to Manchester.
Another Possibility.
1t was also suggested that further
move to delay the execution of the order
of the United States Supreme Court for
the removal of Thaw to New York was
within the range of possibility, but if any
thing of this sort is contemplated the plan
is known only to Thaw and his counsel.
The order for his removal is not expected
until the thirty days of grace permitted
in such cases has elapsed.
Thaw was enjoying today the same
restricted liberty that has been his
since he was placed in the custody of
Sheriff Holman Drew of Coos county.
Detectives Watch Thaw.
There was reason to believe that
the state of New York has taken pre-
cautions against any delay in obtain
ing possession of the prisoner when
the order for his removal was received.
1t is asserted by friends of Thaw that
several detectives in the employ of
New York state slipped into town dur
ing the night and that these men nave
since kept a very close Watcn On tne
Thaw home.
Thaw appeared no more disturbed than
he did when he ran into the arms of the
New Hampshire officers after being
thrust across the border by the Canadian
police. He was evidently in good spirits,
joked with callers and was much pleased
by a telephone message from his mother
at Pittsburgh, in which she assured him
that the fight for his liberty was by no
means at an end.
Refuses to Talk of Case.
In one respect, however, Thaw has
changed markedly. He refuses absolutely
to talk about his case. For the first time
since he killed Stanford White in 1906
he has turned deaf ear to the news
paper men. Thaw appears in good health.
He has improved physically during his
stay here, having spent much time in the
open. He is allowed to go and come much
as he pleases, but always in the company
of the sheriff.
Jerome Is Undecided.
NEW YORK, December 22.-William
Travers Jerome was unprepared today
to say when the legal machinery for
the extradition of Harry X. Thaw from
New Hampshire to this county would
be put in motion. He indicated that
he had reason to believe that Thaw's
attorneys would start new habeas cor
pus proceedings in New Hampshire and
that he feared it might be long time
before Thaw saw the inside of the
Tombs prison, where it is planned to
keep him pending his trial on the
charge of conspiracy to escape from the
Matteawan state hospital for the Grim
inal insane.
Might Be Admitted to Bail.
It was pointed out to Mr.. Jerome to-
day that once removed to the Tombs
Thaw might be admitted to bail.
IF he is admitted to ball." said Mr..
Jerome, "the superintendent of Mat
teawan will Immediately present a de-
tainer under which Thaw will be
taken to Matteawan as an insane man
to await his trial.
l,o i(tn
serve out such sentence as is imposed
upon him, whereupon the detainer, con-
sisting Of his original commitment to
Matteawan, having been filed at his
place of Imprisonment will occasion
his return to Matteawan."
Thaw's attorneys would Say nothing
about his case.