New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
THAW'S PASTOR
In HIS DEFENCE
Calls Killing of Stanford
White Good Job for
Humanity.
PERSECUTION" PLOT
OF WEALTHY CLIQUE
JerOme's Assistant Says Prin-
ciple in Case Is Being
Buried.
iny Tnlasraph 10 The Tribune. ]

by Telegraph to The TrbuneJ
Manchester, N. H., Dec. 26.-lnterest
in the Thaw chse was increased TO-
night by statement issued by the
Rev. DR.. Thomas Chalmers, pastor OF
the First Congregational Church and
an ex-State Senator from the 18th Dis
trict. DR.. Chalmers Is pastor Of the
church that Harry Thaw has attended
since his arrival in this city, more than
two months ago.
an my judgment, the persecution OF
Harry Thaw is being engineered by,
clique of rich men in New YORK VINO
have much to fear if he ever becomes
free" said DR.. Chalmers. II was inter-
ested in the Thaw case long before |
knew Thaw, and have always felt that
he did one good job for humanity when
he sent Stanford White out OF the
world. When one thinks Of the action
in New York in the Cleary case and OF
the pardon of Captain Peter Hams,
who murdered, Annis, IL is hard to ind
any justification for the persecution OF
Thaw.
"As a matter of fact, there is none.
He has behaved himself since ne has
been here; Of that | am sure. lie has
done great deal in philanthropic way.
4
mother, one of the best women in the
world, and do not see why she should
be made to suffer just because she Is
rich.
"Thaw has suffered more than
enogh for what he did. II is my
honest belief that if a poor laboring
man had walked up and shot Stanford
White, under precisely the same provo
cation he to-day would be q free
man. While | don't believe that the
possession of wealth should protect
him from the penalties of wrongdoing,
| also see no reason why he should not
be given the same treatment as poor
man.
"If they get him over the line in
New York State he will be taken to
Matteawan and | fear he will never
leave the asylum alive. jerome and
his crowd know that he is not insane,
but they want him in Matteawan and
will resort to any means TO get MIN
there.
"The only thing that / authorized in
my recent interview on the Thaw case
was that it was my firm belief he
was not insane. One thing is sure.
That is, that If Mr.. Thaw is insane
there are a lot Of insane people IN New
Hampshire and that the claim made by
his pursuers that only his wealth is
saving him is exactly the reverse of
the case.
"Under the initiation of certain men
in New York Thaw is being prosecuted
beyond the limits ever reached in the
criminal annals of such cases, and If
there are any legal means of saving
him hope it will be found"
In view of the efforts. being made to
stir up storm of popular sympathy
for Thaw and make il appear there is
public sentiment against his being
brought back to New York, Franklin
Kennedy, deputy attorney general, who
has worked with William Travers Je-
rome in the effort to obtain Thaw's re-
turn since he was arrested in Canada,
issued statement yesterday pointing
out that the real issue at stake was the
integrity Of the law of the State Of
New York.
I'm the various proceedings in the
Thaw case" he said, "the principle in
yolved has always been lost sight of.
In his order committing Thaw in Feb
ruary, 1903, Justice Bowling found him
dangerous to public peace and safety,
and committed him to Matteawan until
discharged in due course of law
The due course of law through which
he could be discharged under the law
CT the state, said Mr.. Kennedy. was
either in habeas corpus proceedings in
which it could be determined whether
Thaw had recovered his sanity, or the
superintendent of Matteawan might
make certification of his recovery, on
which q justice Of the Supreme Court
might make an order. dscharping him.
"Mr. Thaw has tried to effect his
delivery by both methods" he con-
tinued. ale has sued out five writs
OF habeas corpus and each time the
Supreme Court decided he had not re-
covered his sanity and was still dan
gerous to public peace and safety.
an relation to the certificate Of re-
covery, Mr.. Thaw tried to procure one
by bribery of the Matteawan medical
superintendent through lawyer
named Anhut. Anhut as a result of
this transaction is now serving
sentence in Sing Sing"