Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-27

BARS TO LIBERTY LOWERED
Friends of Whites Slayer Believe
Freedom Is Nearly Won
at Last.
Especial to Tho Timcs-Dispatchl

Travcrs Jcromc-for nearly nine years
known as Harry Is. Thaw's Nemesis
to-day was removed from his position
as Special Deputy Attorney General OF
the State Of New York by Attorney
General Egbert Woodbury., and at once
TO Matteawan
Just why Jerome was removed is
open to much conjecture. Jerome says
he was tired of the case, shrank from
tho publicity il cntailcd. and had grown
sensitive to the calurnny OF tho crowds
who cheered Thaw as a prosecuted hero
and hooted his prosecutor as a little
old man of the sea"
REASONS EMBODIED IN
TELEGRAM OF DISMISSAL.
The reasons that actuated Attorney
General Woodbury. are embodied I'm the
telegram OF dismissal which he sent
Jerome this afternoon. The telegram
reads:
You and Mr.. Kennedy ought to be
congratulated upon successful culmina :
tion OF your efforts for the return OF
Harry Is. Thaw to the rightful jurs-
diction Of the courts of this State. In
this accomplishment you have fulfilled
tn" purpose of your designation as
special deputy attorney The
case will now be handled by the AT
torney-Gcnerals Office through Frank
lin Kennedy and Frank X. Cook. as
sisted by the district attorney.
Il thank you for your services. and
shall feel free 10 call upon you by rea
son of your familiarity with the case
should occasion require
Il do not, however, feel justified in
continuing special counsel in the case
at the expense of the State unless
unusual circumstances arise which
seem to render such assistance neces
sary or advisable
Thus ends the long prosecution OF
Thaw by Jerome. And thus one of the
greatest obstacles between Thaw and
freedom is removed. without any re-
hection upon the ability of Kennedy
Cook and Perkins. Thaw's friends are
openly predicting that Thaw's chances
FOR victory are now more than bright
Jerome has been connected with the
case since the night the Pittsburgh
millionaire shot and killed Stanford
White-nine years ago next June.
JEROME ALWAYS BARRED
GATES TO FREEDOM
Through both sensational trials.
through the three habeas corpus hear
ings and through every recourse to law.
old and new. Jerome raced with Thaw
and always barred the gates. Into
Canada, after Thaw's wild flight from
Matteawan. Jerome followed the noted
prisoner. TO win again by forcing Thaw ~
10 hee the Dominion and seek peace
behind q fourth habeas corpus writ in
New Hampshire. And then. after cigh-
teen months Of waiting. the unrelenting
Jerome fetched Thaw back to New
fork-the final chapter in The most re-
markabic prosecution in criminal
annals
Jerome refused TO discuss for pub
lication his relief from the case. John
H. Stanchfield, Thaws chief of counsel.
would make no comment on the sub
Ject. Thaw. himself forbidden 10 utter
word without the consent Of his coun-
sci. remained silent. and his devoted
mother. Mrs. Mary Copley Thaw. was
similarly quiet.
But Thaw's attitude was more elo-
quent than words. He radiated happi-
ness. He paced his old cell In the
Tombs with his face wreathed In
smiles Only the bound mandate
from his counsel held back the out
burst of gratification he felt.
Franklin Kennedy was In Albany to-
day. He is expected here tomorrow
morning. when Thaw is arraigned be-
fore Justice Davis. If Mr.. Kennedy is
prevented. by any accident, from being
in court, Mr.. Jerome will appear i'm his
stead.