Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-22


street. In spite of the heat. he took
his daily walk In Central Park. read
his newspapers and now and then went
downstairs from his library to receive
cnllers who had come with congrat-
ulations.
TO all such he preferred 10 put 1t
that he was beginning his eighty
eighth year. for the ex-just!ce. who
has helped TO make history in his long
career. insists on living very much In
the present
lie responded to n reporters oues-
tons with "reminiscences of Jefferson
Davis and the days when he himself
made speech that caused Fort Sum-
ter TO be fired upon. He told OF tho
time when he commanded a division
in the Civil War, and how, captured
as spy, General Grant and Secretary
or War stanton wanted him hanged
but President Lincoln saved him But
the veteran seemed more interested in
the Thaw case and the European war
which he has followed closely in the
wspapers day by day, than in the
dohngs OF the past.
lie sat at the open windows Of the
library. which jut out into the street
and catch all the brcezes Despite his
eighty seven years, he answered the
odd moments in "swatting" flies that
buzzcd too near. One ny escaped. but
II was an unusually athletic ny The
veterans long locks, which have al
ways made him striking figure as
they hang down TO his shoulders, are
not yet entirely gray. He is very Wig
orous, does not even use glasses except
for reading, and has no difficulty in
hearing ordinary conversational tones
Thinks Thnw Away. Sane.
"Thaw was never insane" said tho
ex-justice, when asked what he
thought OF the case. II attended his
iirst trial and watched him. Insanity
was the only plea they could make
Down in Virginia. where we have the
unwritten law. he would have been
acquitted on his first trial He would
only have had TO say, That man de-
bauchcd my wife and / shot him and
the jury would have said, Good for
YOU and let him go.
That unwrittcn law plea, let me tell
you, has very salutary effect II the
community knows an offensc against
woman can be reckoned with direct
~, tho man inclined TO such offense
Will be more careful.
Il am against capital punishment,
too. When ! was on the Supreme Court
bench. having as Il lawyer handled
some noted murder cases. the associate
justices would often ask me to sit in 4
murder trial But told them ! could
not, as | did not believe in the death
penalty, and they gave up asking me
to sit in the criminal parts except in
cases where life or death was not in
voived."
Judge Pryor said he had read yes
terday mornings statement In the
Times by the Thaw jury foreman. and
ne said it expressed his ideas on the
main points Then he turned his at
tcntion to the European war.
II am in thorough sympathy with the
allies. especially the French, for re-
member In our history how, when
Washington said it was all up, they
came to our aid" he said but in
spite Of this. think Germany has
made a wonderful showing, military
and diplomatic.
''T am a Virginian and my stock is
English. I must say. however, that I
am deeply depressed by the showing the
English have made. 1t is cowardice.
] am ashamed to think Of the number
of men they have in the field. Now
they talk of CONSUMPTION. and it looks
as though 1t would come to that Many
cially the Irish. And then look at
what the Welsh miners have done,
jeopardizing even the supply Of coal
necessary to keep matters going.
Makes Some War Predictions.
LAS far as the position OF the United
States goes. ! do not believe we VIII
get into the war. But l expect we VIII
be forced to sever diplomatic relations
with Germany. That is far from being
war. however. I am thoroughly In ac-
cord with everything President Wilson
has done in our foreign relations. and
believe him a groat leader.
at Is foolish to prophesy. yet l VIII
try It, Here is what think Will hap
pen. Warsaw will be taken in short
time. Then the Germany, who have
nothing in particular against the Rus
slams will conclude separate peace
with them in spite of the general agree
ment. France will come in next for
the same treatment. The Kaiser, at
least since this war started. has shown
very little hatred against the French.
Then England will he left alone to
face things.
'Is England an old empire that has
reached the stage that ended the his
| tory of Greece and Rome? Perhap
not. Perhaps 1t Is not destined to go
yet. and ut the hands of Germany.
But whatever happens, l think the
! end Of this thing they call militarism
will come. Whoever trlumphs. the peo-
| ple, even OF the victorious country. will
| demand that tho nations means no de-
| voted to humanity rather than war.
! The people are paying for this war.
| They are losing most. and they know
1t.
"As AN old soldier, can say there
| is nothing in war. have seen enough
| OF It,. The world Is not Mt n stage now
| whore constant killing Of men by their