The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-12
THAW VERDICT MAY
BE GIVEN TONIGHT
Counsel for Prisoner Plan for Quick
Action in Case Respondent
is Released.

NEW YORK, March u. The de-
fense in the trial of Harry K. Thaw
for conspiracy in escaping from Matea
wan asylum rested this morning after
calling several character witnesses for|
Roger Thompson and it was considered
possible that a verdict might be return
ed by tonight. Counsel for Thaw were
said to be prepared for quick action if
IA verdict is returned releasing Thaw
from the custody of New York county.
1t was understood they would ask
for writ of habeas corpus, under the
operation of which Thaw might obtain
another test of his sanity. Although
representatives, of the state had an
nounced that if Thaw were released
from the custody of the county he
would be put in charge of an attend
ant of Matteawan asylum. John b.
Stanchfeld, chief of Thaw S counsel,
said he was sure a writ of habeas cor
ipus could be obtained before Thaw
could be taken out of the jurisdiction
of the county.
| Several character witnesses were
called to testify in behalf of the CO.
defendants, after Thaw had completed
his testimony under cross examination.
Mr.. Stanchfield then began his closing
address to the jury. He argued that
no crime had been committed and that
therefore, the defendant could not be
held in any way responsible for the
escape Some private vengeance is
responsible for the state of New York
spending thousands and thousands OF
dollars, probably $4,000 to try Thaw
upon a puny little charge like this,
he said. He contended that Thaw's be
havior in AIatteawan proved that he
was perfectly sane.
Thaw was on the stand for one hou
and thirty minutes late Yesterday af
ternoon, and told in detail the stor,
of his escape from Matteawan on AUG
II, 1913. and the events which le,
him to make the dash for liberty. l.
the course of his narrative he involve,
the late Alfred Henry Lewis, autho
[ and newspaper editor, stating that MI
- Lewis, who was also an attorney an
once public prosecutor of CLEVELAND
Il Ohio, had advised him that he woul
= commit no crime by effecting his e.
cape if he avoided violence and tn
t bribery of officials and employees.
II Thaw named H. A Hoffman. a
under sheriff of Dutchess county. 3
e the man who, at his request. had a
j ranged with eX-Assemblyman Richar
j. Butler and others to have the aut,
- mobiles waiting at the gates of I'll
asylum. Hoffman is now in Va1
couver, B. c. During his recital Tha
attempted in every way to shield I'll
IL men on trial with him, asserting thi
m they were simply hired to perfor
certain duties and had not entered i
ar TO q conspiracy.
s. But on cross examination the admi
sion was forced from him that
~ personally paid Butler $4,000 out
H. which the ex-Assemblvman was
in compensate the others for their wor
d. The further admission was obtain,
that Roger Thompson, the chauffe
:. who accompanied him to Canada. W
."i paid by Thaw $1,000 in wages al
La in the form of q gift -
nd When this testimony was broug
10 out Justice Page remanded four
nd the alleged eo-eonspirators, Butt,
Thompson, Thomas Flood and Euge
Duffy, who had been out on bail,
. the Tombs, pending verdict by t
4 jury, following a motion to that
Il feet by Deputy Attorney Gene1
II Franklin Kennedy.