The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-12

of counsel, was discharged as no evidence
 had been adduced to connect him with the
 alleged crime.
 1 Thaw testified later, however. he had 1 five 'employes." Special Deputy Attor- | ney General Kennedy. in charge of the prosecution, considered that Thaw had so 1 involved his four remaining codefendants that he requested the court to cancel their l bail bonds and confine them until a yer | dict should be reached. The court com l piled The defense will be completed to- morrow, and the case should be with the 1 jury before night.
 Thaw was called after his counsel
 had tried in vain to get into the record | the testimony of alienists and others | regarding his sanity. In reply to ques- | tions Thaw told of the times he had left Matteawan and where he had gone. Thaw was still suffering with rheuma- 1, hsm when he entered court today. Ii | was nearly 3:30 o'clock when one of his l attorneys turned and spoke to him. Thaw | immediately stepped briskly around to l the witness chair. At first he kept his 1 gaze on the face of John B. Stanchfield, who was leading him through a direct | examination. He appeared exceedingly nervous and began by answering ques- | tions in monosyllables. l Alter lle ndu been III | progress a half hour, however Thaw be- 1 gan to talk more freely. And lie looked over at the jurymen, who themselves | were all sitting far forward in their
 seats so that they might hear every word | the witness said. It seemed that the in- 1 terest of the jury gave Thaw confidence,
 for from then on he went into lengthy 1 explanation. His attorneys and attor- neys for the prosecution let him answer | every question as completely as he de- | sired.
 1 On cross-examination Thaw several l times showed signs of impatience with | the manner in which assertive questions were asked him by Frank K Cook, d | deputy attorney general. Each time, however, he quickly became apologetic and said that he intended to answer MT. Cooks questions to the best of his ability. What was the insane population of Stanchfield. the defendants counsel
 About 800 or 900," replied Thaw.
 Tn reply to other questions Thaw said:
 By August, 1913, l had come to be-
 lieve that it would be an impossibility for me to get out by legal means. I was informed that the methods by which
 people usually got out would be un-
 successful in my case.'' Thaw said he slept in a ward with score or more persons who were in- sane.
 When they would become violent" he went on, they were put in strait jackets"
 The proseeution's objection to this line was sustained.
 Thaw said he had beeen advised by
 Alfred Henry Lewis, a writer who had since died, that he would be violating no law in escaping, providing no yio- lence was used to effect the escape. Thought He Was Sane
 With that thought in mind I de- cided to leave the institution" Thaw continued. 50 I instructed H. A. Hoff- man, one of my agents, to get me two automobiles. l told MT. Hoffman where
 l wanted the automobiles placed, and I fixed the hour at o'clock. I knew the milkwagon arrived there at that time on Sunday morning."
 Did you believe yourself sane?'
 "I did"
 Did you intend to commit a crime? ?"
 "I was exceedingly particular not to commit a crime" Thaw continued: ''1 never saw any of these co-defend- ants before that morning. I gave the men in the automobiles their instruc-
 tions and they carried them out I Nihitu lp Btl to 1iIISDurg without crossing the state of New York That was why I started out to go around through Canada" Direct examination ended. Thaw was cross-examined by Deputy Attorney General Cook
 Do you remember when you pleaded not guilty on the ground of insanity ?' l asked Mr. Cook.
 Yes, I remember that" Thaw re- piled. "The plea was made by Martin
 Littleton, my counsel, but l did not l authorize it. It was made without my permission"
 l Mir Cook started to ask further ques- tions about the insanity plea when MT.
 Stanchfeld objected and was sus- stained.
 I Thaw was questioned about writs of l habeas corpus he had sued out He said ! former Governor Stone of Pennsylvania was among persons who had told him he could not hope to gain his liberty 1 by habeas corpus writs. Thaw said he had inquired as to the possibility of obtaining from the various 1 superintendents certificate of recovery l but that he had never actually applied 1 for one.
 Where did you first meet lawyer ! named Anhut?" asy Mir. Cook. At Matteawan," replied Thaw. I