The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-07-15
A Demonstration Occurred
When Jury Returned and.
Announced Verdict !
COURT ALONE CAN
SET THAW FREE
Justice Hendrick Will Ar
nounce His Decision In
the Case Friday.
BY A!ssocIATED PREss.

New York, July 14.-Harry Ken
dali Thaw was today declared sane
by the jury which for nearly three
weeks had listened to testimony given
in the supreme court here before JUS
tice Hendrick. Forty-eight minutes
were consumed and two ballots were
taken in reaching a verdict.
Justice Hendrick Friday will an
nounce whether the commitment upon
which Thaw was incarcerated in the
state hospital for the criminal IN
sane, Matteawan, shall be vacated,
thereby giving the slayer of Stan
ford White his liberty for which has
fought in the courts for nine years.
The justice has the privilege either
Of freeing or sending Thaw back to
Matteawan, the jury merely acting in
an advisory capacity.
The verdict was returned shortly
before 4 o'clock. Despite the warn
ing of the court several persons stood
up In front of their seats and the
court room hummed Hike a dynamo.
Justice Hendrick and the court atten-
dants raped for order.
When the verdict was announced
Thaw smiled, shook hands with his
counsel, kissed his mother, who was
with his and afterwards shook hands
with the jurors Mrs. Thaw, the
mother, also shook hands with the
jurors.
immediately afterward John B.
Stanchheld, chief counsel for Thaw,
made q motion that the commitment
60 Matteawan, which followed the
verdict Of net guilty on the ground
Of insanity in Thaw's second trial for
the murder Of Stanford White, be va
Gated. The court set tomorrow when
he win hear the arguments and re-
court announced that he would an
nounce his decision the day following.
AS soon as the jury was dismissed
court attendants and deputy sheriffs
had great difficulty in preventing
scores Of men and women from dash
ing up to Thaw in the court room to
congratulate him. Outside the court
house the street and sidewalks on
either side of the building were con-
gested with people and Thaw was
cheered when he appeared IN custody
Of the deputies. He remained in the
Ludlow street Jail pending final
disposition of his case.
The vote on the first ballot was
eleven to one and the second unani-
nous that Thaw is sane. The dissent
ing Jury said the case of the negative
vote was a matter of form.
THAW'S LIFE SKETCHED.
In summing up for the state, Depu-
aty Attorney General Cook sketched
Thaw's life from his birth until he
was deported from Canada after his
escape from Matteawan. He recalled
that Thaw had thrice been declared
insane. He told of an alleged attempt
by Thaw to stab a fellow student at
Harvard, and of his alleged attempt
to shoot cabman.
"Thaw was insane during all this
time" Mr.. Cook went on. "He was
insane when he shot and killed
Stanford White; there is no doubt Of
that. And the same condition pre-
vail today. When did he recover his
reason? Was it when he gave inter
views with himself while in Jail in
Canada? Was it when he threw a
tray of food on the floor there? Was
It when, in fit of anger, he hurled
a beer bottle through a Window
Mr.. Cook repeatedly turned from
the jury box and shook his finger al
Thaw, sitting five feet away. He re-
ferred time and again to Evelyn Mes
bit Thaw as ''the true virgin of his
Thaw seemed unaware that Mr.. Cook
was anywhere nearby. He chatted
with his counsel and once turned and
smiled at friend among the specta-
tors.
PRESENT, NOT THE PAST.
John B. Stanchfeld, summing W
| for Thaw, reminded the jury that nc
previous actions of Thaw were In
volved in the proceeding.
"The question:" said Mr.. Stanch'
field, SIS whether he is sane today
We are not interested in his pas
performances. 1 might say however
that do not believe he was evel
insane"
Mr.. stanchfield took up the remark
Continued on Page seven).