Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-24
THAW TAKESSTAND
AS FIRST WITNESS
Strategy of His Counsel Is
Complete Surprise to
State.
MAKES GOOD IMPRESSION
Evident That All Sordid History
of Case Is to Be Raked
Over.

NEW YORK. June 23.-i;rilliant legal
manocuvering. with houors even at the
close of the first days skirmishing,
marked the formal opening to-day he
fore Justice Hcnrick and a jury in the
supreme Court of the frh, for Harry
*. Thaw's freedom
Thaw was called suddenly to tho wit
ness stand as his own frs, witness bv
Stanchfield. his chief counsel after n
powerful opening address Taken com
pletelT by surprise. Deputy Attorney
Genera! Frank Cook. in charge for the
state. sharply interposcd with tho ,ln-
usual demand that he be permitted to
make his opening at once Conceded
the right by Justice Hendrick. Cook
launched into vitriolic denunciation
or Thaw. in which he recited all of the
ott-told charges against the defendant,
winding up with an i!npa ssioned defense
Of the late Stanford White.
TRIES TO AROUSE TEMPER
AND SHAKE NERVE OF rHAW
Concedcdly. Cooks purpose was TO
arouse the temper and shake the nerve
OF Thaw, whom he knew was to fol-
low as a witness.
Thaw scored first blood for himself
by advancing TO the witness stand with
the utmost composure. For twenty
minutes he bore himself to the high
est advantage. and then Staoch6e1d
once more took the State BY surprise
ending his examination abruptly. after
having examined his client ONLY as TO
matters subsequent to the escape from
Matteawan
For moment Cook was nonplussed
Stanchfeid's strategy was pleln-to
have the examination of Thaw over
with In the early stages of the tri,,
SO that. in the event OF any slips on the
part OF his client, they would he OBJ
scured By the mass of testimony which
is to follow.
took quickly rallied, and in the hush
win which the sharp play of legal wit
was oeing Followed announced that he
"ouio nefer cross-examination of Thaw
uhtli iater In the trial Meanwhile. he
declared he would probably ask that
lhaw submit himself 10 a mental ex.
animation.
Tonight Cook announced that toward
'ne end OF the trial probably az his last
witness. he will put Thaw on the stand
making Aim witness for the ;State.
mus Thaw Will be compelled TO 'reci.a
over all tho intimate details of tho
shooting of White with the mo,tvas
"hich impclled him TO the act. Cook
indicated In his cross-examinatiop -,
witnesses to-day that. barring an ,d-
verse ruling from the court. he nro
poses 10 dclve into all tho sorsa,;ono,
details of the Thaw- White ,r,ged,.
THAW STANDS READY
FOR ORDEAL OF FIRE
Thaw is ready. He impartc to conn
SCI Tonight that he is absolutely surc
or himself. and does not fear the test ot
hre which is being prepared for him
foT the rest. twelve Law witnesses
drawn from all the varied Wake of
hle' swore to-day before the twelve
VINO VIII pass upon Thaw's sanity to n
nehet IN his absolute nationality. John
". blackburn. one OF the Jurors who
acquitted Thaw Of murder. avowed his
pehct III his sanity at the time that ver-
dict was rendered
inns is important in connection r.ith
'he case which the Thaw counsel have
sci out 10 ouild up The plan is to
prove mat Harry *. Traw never was
"'''cten with that incurable brand of
INSANITY known rs paranoia, for which
ne mas oeen imprisoned for upwards of
eight years
Three of the jurors who acquitted
ma" oi conspiracy in escaping from
"a''ea"ah' two clcrgymcn who came
IN close contact with him in Tho
Tombs, physician who attended him
there. keeper who stood watch over
him. lawyer who associated with hin,
III Now hampshire after his escape !,
In a civil action. and two newsnaner
reporters who had observed him -,
close hand during every staee of tho
case. all testified to his rationality.
UNDIVIDED ATTENTION
GIVEN TO PROCEEDINGS
Seated at the counsel table. nanl<on
on either side by John g. StanchfeId
ana Morgan j. O'Brien, Thaw gave his
undivided attention to the proceeding
In hand. His self-consciousncss when
unoccupicd, had entirely disappeared
HIS manner was easy and confident. \
smile occasionally played across his
face. He followed closely the testi-
mony or the witnesses. made occasional
comment studied the faces of the
jurors. jotted down notes for counsel
and minded his own business.
1t was at his best that Thaw was
seeh' however, when he was suddenly
cailed 10 the witness stand at the con-
clusion of Cooks summoning IN. = He
had listened with downcast eyes and
an occasional flush to the recital by
tho deputy attorneygeneral of the
inmillar story OF the past. His hand
trempied slightly as from time to time
he bent forward and made whispered
comment to his counsel But when the
summons came he stood up swiftly,
braced back his shoulders and. facing
the jurors squarely, submitted himself
to examination.
FACE BEARS PALLOR
OF LONG CONFINEMENT
He wore dark blue suit, with turn
down collar and blue tie. His face
bore the Dallor of long confinement
His hair has turned an ashen hue. But
there Is glow Of health and youth
still In his eyes-no longer eyes that