Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-08
Opinion Expressed Defuethe
Investigating Commission.
Opening Of Public Hearing at
Concord, New Hampshire.
Mrs. Thaw Present.-NouId Be Safe
To Allow Bail, Concensus Of Opinion

ing the question, at a public hearing
in this city today, by Holman a. Drew
of Berlin, sheriff of Coos county, and
Clark D. Stevens, members of the Con-
cord police force, two of the three
men in whose charge Thaw has been
since his arrest at Colebrook, N H.,
Sept. 10. United States Marshal E. P.
Mute of Pennington, the third of
Thaw's custodians, was unable to be
present today, but will be heard by the
commission tomorrow, as will Oliver
]. Pelren, manager of the hotel where
Thaw has lived for several months.
From present indications this will
complete the witnesses to be heard by
the commission.
The public hearing was opened in
the United States courtroom in this
city at 1915 this morning. General
Frank S. Streeter and Dr. Charles P
Bancroft of this city and DR.. George
A. Blumer of Providence, r. l., were
the commissioners present, DIR. Morton
Prince of Boston, the fourth member
of the board of investigation named by
Judge Aldrich, being indisposed.
Harry K. Thaw and his mother, Mrs
Mary Copley Thaw, were present at
tended by Judge William NJ. Chase and
former Mayor Nathaniel E. Martin of
this city, of Thaw's counsel There was
no appearance of counsel for the state of
New York
Sheriff Drew, the first witness told of
his intimate relations with Thaw during
the period of his custodianshp and in re-
ply to questions by counsel and men,
bers of the commission said that dur
ing that time Thaw had not shown any
tendency towards violence or doing harm
to anyone He has manifested no i'll
temper. no irritability and no lack of
self-control.
The sheriff said that Thaw was ner-
vous and excited when first arrested at
Colebrook and that on the occasion of
Jerome's attack upon him during the
hearing before Governor Felker on the
fquestion of extradition he showed some
excitement, but no more than any man
would under the same circumstances"
To questions by Drs Bancroft and Blu
mer, Mr.. Drew said that Thaw slept WELL
was pleasant companion under all cir
cumstances and in conversation upon the
topics of the day displayed wonderful
insight, much better than the ordinary
man" He never expressed unusual or
strange opinions, the sheriff said, and in
all his relations with his guards was
square"
Should you consider him character
iEed by an exaggeration of the ego?"
inquired Dr.. Blumer and Sheriff Drew
answered: NO, sir
Police officer Stevens who sleeps
| in the same room with Thaw and ac-
companies him on his favorite walk
| ing trips, said that Thaw impresses
! him as a perfect gentleman" He
! took it much cooler than could have"
| said Stevens in relation to Thaw's con-
| duct when attacked by Jerome be-
| fore Governor Felker.
Stevens said he wished he himself
had Thaw's ability in conversation.
! The principal difference he noticed in
ThaW from other people was that
Thaw was more kind hearted than the
run of Stevens acquaintances
DO you feel perfectly safe every
night when you go to bed in the same
room with Thaw?" asked DR.. Ban
| croft.
Yes, SIR replied Stevens with a
smile. Il have never noticed an act of
violence on his part and l do know of
many acts of kindness"
Stevens said that the subject of
| ThaW's wife never had been mention
ed in their converse tions. Thaw never
had manifested any anger or resent
ment towards any public official or
other person with whom his past had
been connected.
| ha
| Thaw's conduct was characterized by
! common sense and he never had seen
anything about him to constitute him
menace to the public if admitted to
bail.
Before declaring the public hearing
| adjourned without date General
| Streeter, for the commission, made a
statement in regard to the non-ap-
pearance of William T. Jerome, repre-
sentative of the state Of New York.
| General Streeter said that the COM
mission had received On Tuesday af-
| ternoon a letter from Mr.. Jerome say
| ing that because the scope of the COM
missions inquiry is so limited he had
decided not to appear before it.
1T seems obvious" said General
Streeter, that Mr.. Jerome greatly
misapprehends the courts order and
the scope of the commission power
and duty hereunder. Unlimited pow
ers appear to have been conferred up
on the commission to make such OBJ
servations and examinations as it
sees fit to make as to Thaw's present
condition and to enable it to perform
it's duty of advising the court upon
the only question submitted, namely,
whether Thaw's liberty on bail would
menace the public safety
General Streeter read a telegram
which the commission sent to Mr..
Jerome Tuesday night, asking him to
appear before it on Friday of this
week, 'if you feel that you can pro-
duce material facts but not opinion,
bearing upon Thaw's present mental
condition"
From the reluctance of the counsel
for the state of New York to appear
on this question, the commission may
assume that such counsel have no evil
dence to offer upon the subject, which
could supplement the official Mattea-
wan hospita1 records or caseboOk