Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-08
THAW GOES TO TR|A[
TO-DAY FOR CONSPIRACY
Prisoner Is Confident That This Is
beginning OF End OF His
Troubles.
JUSTICE PAGE TO PRESIDE
Special Panel OF 200 Talesmen Sum-
moned for Jury Duty-Intercsting
Feature VIII Be Inside Story Of
Escapc-Plot From Matteawau.
Especial to The Times-Dispa,ch. ]

CHAMBER OF the criminal branch of tho
Supreme Court, where he made his two
successive nights for life Harry x.
Thaw Will go on trial again Tomorrow,
this time before Justice Page, on
charge OF conspiracy. growing out Of
his escape from Matteawan OH August
II, 1918
Thaw and his friends believe that
this is the beginning OF the end of his
troubles. Out OF the proceedings which
VIII be begun Tomorrow they feel that
he will eventually. even though 1t be
through term of imprisonment on
Blackwelrs Island, be set at liberty.
with the question OF his sanity nnally
set at rest
in the Tombs o-day, Thaw was most
cheerful. despite cold and stiff neck
He jocularly expressed the hope that
no one would regard him as naughty
II he walked into court with his head
high In the air His eyes bright and
his complexion clear. the famous pris-
oner smoked his pipe thoughtfully, and
declared himself ready for the ordeal
II know nothing OF the plans in my
behalf" said Thaw. II am entirely in
the hands OF my attorneys"
STANCHFIELD REFUSES
TO MAKE STATEMENT
John p. Stanchneld, who will con-
duct the defense OF Thaw. would merely
say he had everything In readiness. In
reply TO the various rumors that he
had a surprise to spring on the State
or that he would offer no defense for
Thaw, he refused to make any com
ment. One OF the persistent rumors is
that Mr. Stanchheld at the beginning
OF the proceedings tomorrow Will
plunge the whole case into a lunacy
proceeding by pointing out the unrea-
condolences OF trying nm insane man
for conspiracy. and asking that a com
mission be appointed to pass on the
sanity OF the defendant before he was
compelled to go to trial. This would
bring the whole question OF Thaw's
sanity, which must be determined be-
fore he Is returned to Matteawan, be-
fore the court at once.
Called TO the bar with Thaw to-mor-
row will be Roger Thompson. Richard
Butler, Eugene Duffy. Michael O'Keefe
and Thomas Flood. charged with hav-
ing conspired with him and aided in
his escape. The State Will try all OF
the defendants at once, unless they
''S'st opoii 6GPaIhtc tTlbIs, WHICH Is
not expected.
been summoned for jury duty at the
trial. which is expected to last about
TWO weeks. Aside from the possibility
of Thaw himself taking the witness
stand. one Of the most interesting fea-
lures will be the inside story OF the
plot to get Thaw out of Matteawau.
IDENTIFIED WITH TRIAL.
John B. Stanchfeld Will have general
charge OF tho defense. but will be as
sisted by half a dozen other attorneys
The State will be represented by DEPUTY
Attorney-Generals Frank K Cook and
Franklin Kennedy, with Assistant Dis
trict Attorney oMalley, representing
the district attorneys Office. For the
first time in the history OF the Thaw
case. former District Attorney william
Travers Jerome Will not be identified
with the proceedings.
There is nothing more that can
say, except that we are ready" said
Mr. Cook, u am not at all disturbed
fancy we are prepared for anything
they may attempt, The State will call
about twenty-five witnesses, and.
'2''H'' 90 II NAl- TAME bbOut week
for is TO present our case Through
these witnesses we shall trace Thaw's
flight through Connecticut, Massachu-
sets, clear UP to Canada, showing lust
how II was arranged. what preparations
were made in advance, and how the
entire plot was carried out"
II was understood to-day tina. Mrs
william Thaw. mother Of the defendant,
Will sit with him through the trial
PRISONER OK FUGITIVE
SINCE JUNE. 1905
Thaw has been prisoner or fugitive
since the night OF Juno as, 1905, when
he shot and killed Stanford White on
the Madison Square Garden roof After
two trials. the first OF which resulted
in disagreement. he was acquitted on
the ground OF insanity, and WAS sent
10 MatteRwan
Then began Thnw's fight for liberty.
Writs of habeas corpus were obtained
at various times, requiring his apDear
ance in court Ia establish his sanity
These proceedings invariably resulted
unfavorably to him.
On Sunday. August IT, 1913, Thaw
escaped in an automobile. cludcd cap-
ture for two days, and finally was mr.
rested Mt Conticook, Canada. He sub
sequently was released by the Canadian
authorities and sent into Vermont He
fled to coiebrook. n. H., whore he oh
tained counsel and prepared to fight
against returning to Matteawan
writ OF habeas corpus was OH
tanned from 4 Federal Judge at Con-
cord. and Thaw automatically became
government charge. Argument on
the writ was delayed until Governor
Felker, Of New Hampshire. could dc
eide to grant or deny the fugitiye's ex
tradition.
The Governor finally decided that
Thaw should be extradited, and then
the case went back to the United
States Supreme Court on the broad
issue that Thaw's rights under the Con-
stitution were being violated; that New
York, holding him legally insane.
sought his extradition on n charge OF
conspiracy. Thaw was kept I'm custody.
but was taken in charge by New York
State officers about seven weeks ago.
when the Supreme Court ruled that he