New-York tribune., 1915-03-14
JURORS WEREOUT
ALMOST 10 HOURS
Stanchfield Now Demands
Return of Client to
New Hampshire.
HABEAS CORPUS WRIT
TO PREVENT SEIZURE
Lanyon and Grifenhagen Fight
in Court and Justice Page
Shares in Scuff1e.

A fist fight IN court and a verdict Of
acquittal for Harry K. Thaw and sll
four of his co-defendants brought the
Thaw trial to a spectacular ending yes.
terday. The fight was between Sheriff
Max Grifenhagen and John Lanyon, .
private detective in the employ Of the
prosecution. The jurors came In to
deliver their verdict while the COURT
room was still seething with excites
ment.
After the jury was dismissed meme
bers of it said they were unanimously
of the opinion that Thaw was sane and
would have brought in such finding
had they not been precluded from do.
ing so by the ruling of the court that
Thaw's mental condition was not an
issue in the trial.
The phase of the evidence that won
for him his acquittal was his own tes-
timony-that he believed himself sano
the day he walked out of MatteawGn.
that he was advised by lawyers that 10
was no crime to escape, that he had no
criminal intentions and carefully avoid
ed committing any crime.
On this point, when the jury asked
TO have the record containing this tes-
timony read 70 them, the court re-
newing its ruling that if they found
the evidence showed he had an honest
misconception as TO his rights they
should take that into consideration as
bearing on the question of criminal In
tent. In his original charge Justice
Page had instructed them that criminal
intent was necessary TO establish
crime.
Judge Takes Part in Scuffie.
The fight between Sheriff Grifen.
hagen and Lanyon came just as the
Jury had left the courtroom laden with
these renewed instructions. Justice
Page himself took part in the scuffs
TO keep the two enraged men apart, and
il was in the face of his admonitions
to them to calm down that their fists
began to beat a tattoo on each others
features just as he turned away from
them.
1t sprang out Of i'll feeling between
the two men that has been growing
ever since Thaw was returned from
New Hampshire. Lanyon was brought
into the case by William Travers Je-
rome when he first went 10 Canada 20
get Thaw After the return here Lam
yon asked Grifenhagen 20 make him q
special deputy so that he would have
official standing in the case.
The Sheriff refused this, and has
chafed under what he termed Lam
yon's ofiiciousness. Thaw was IN tho
custody of the Sheriff, who did not con-
slider Lanyon had anything to do with
that custody.
Yesterday while the Jury vas in tho
box to receive the instructions OF the
court Grifenhagen saw Lanyon sitting
in the inclosure reserved for counsel,
close against the railing of the jury
box. He saw the detectives lips
moving.
He spoke to Abraham Levy, counsel
for Butler, expressing the opinion that
Lanyon had no right there. Levy
agreed, and when Lanyon refused 10
leave the inclosure at his request he
appealed to Frank Cook, chief Of the
prosecution.
DO you want him in herel" Levy
said.
Ordered from Seat Near Jury.
"No," Cook replied, and added to
Lanyon, "Go on out, Lanyon."
Lanyon got up and went surlily to
the back of the courtroom. After the
jury went back 20 the jury room
Grifenhagen complained 10 Justice
Page that Lanyon was talking to a
member of the jury. The justice sum-
mOned Lanyon before him. He had
left his seat and was standing on the
"If you do any talking to the jury
I'll put you where Thaw is for thirty
days" the court said severely.
That is lie, your honor" Lanyon
said. II have been around court long
enough to know better that that. IL
is lie that / spoke 10 a jurorl" 4
His arms began to fly, and then
Frank Cook pinioned him. while tho
Judge put his hand on his chest and
pushed him away. Thinking it was
over, Justice Page turned to go into
his chambers, and had only taken
step or two when the two men new
at each other.
Grifenhagen landed on Lanyon's
cheek, and Lanyon countered with q
hard one on the Sherif's eye. linen
the Sheriff began TO clear for action.
He pulled off his coat and dived at
Lanyon. Lanyon met him coming as no
stood. But six men were between mem
nv this time, and no more BOWS
landed, although plenty started, 49,.
"Niller. Miller!1 the Sheriff sa'0'ss