Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-12
IQUEsT|ON OF HIS SANITY
DOESN'T ENTER THAW CASE
Justice Page Sustains Objection of
Attorney General and Rules
Against Prisoner.
UNIQUE SITUATION DEVELOPS
Issue Now Goes to Jury on Plain
Facts About Escape, and Whether
II Was Lawful or Not-Slayer
Himself on Stand.
Especial To The Times-Dispa,ch. |

Especial Ia The Times Dispatchl
! NEW YORK. March 1.-THE story
I OF his escape from Mattcawan; Of tho
pln leading thereto, and the sub
scIuent flight To Canada. was told by
! Harry *. rhaw to-day before Justice
Page in the criminal branch Of the
! Supreme Court
i He denied that there was Il con
I spiracy. He assumed all credit for
/ the plan and the successful engineer
ing thereof. He admitted paying Rich
ard Butler. Big Dick" as much as
$4,000, out Of which sum Butler was
[ to reward the others and give Rich
ard. alias "F?ducarch Roger" Thompson
| the chauffeur, a present" OF 81 600 in
addition 10 the $40 or SIS" daily wage
agreed upon in Thompson's case.
! lie declared that he had been advised.
prior to his escape, by the late Alfred
/ Henry Lewis, that there was no law in
! New York state making 1, Il crime to
/ escape. provided neither assault nor
I bribery were employed. He added that
! following his escape and after his cap
! turc. Mr.. LcwIs's counsel was STAMPED
rs quite correct by Mcssrs Morschauscr
Carmody. Jerome. Kennedy and stone,
all OF whom, as lawyers have been
allied. at various times. with the cele-
/
Thaw declared that his plo, to es-
cape was worked through "onc Of his
agents" II. A. Hoffman. OF Pough-
keepsie, once under sheriff in Duchess
/ County. and later special investigation
for Mr. Morschauser. brother OF the
justice. and formerly associate coun-
sci for Thaw. Hoffman. he declared.
hired the men, arranged for the two
motor cars. two hired lest one break
down. and. ut his tThaw's) direction.
stationed the cars outside the gates OF
Matteawan on the morning OF August
III. 1919.
TItAw DOES NOR KNOW
WHERE HOFFMAN, is
Mr. Cook, cross-examining for the
State. asked Thaw whether he knew
that Hoffman was In Vancouver at
present. Thaw said that he did not
The trial to-day was studded lib
orally with surprises
Although Thaw strc-c vaIian,lv IN
! shoulder the entire responsibility for
| the escape. his testimony vas of such
SINISTER character that Franklin Ken
nedy. deputy Attorney General. de-
mandcd 1T the close OF the day that
Butler. Eugene Duffy. Thomas Flood and
Thompson be locked up in the Tombs
overnight. instead OF being permitted
TO enjoy their bonded liberty JuetIce
| Page 90 ordered.
| Following the usual pleas OF counsel
FOR the defense. and the pleas were as
, varied and as strong as the associated
! lawyers are numerically. Justice Page
'rtated no little surprise by dischnrgine
Michael O'keefe. the NTH OF the nj
ieHed co-consDirators.
AS indicated by MIR. Stanchheld i, his
Cross examination. he sought to-day in
ms defense, TO Introduce testim.n..
! showing that Thaw was sane at :he
Time OF his escape; realized that he was
| sane ana that, M Il sane person he was
Justihed In leaving Mattcawnn
The ruling came during the cross
examination by MIR Stanchfieh OF Eern-
ara a. Kelsey, deputy sheriff OF Cole
brook, " II. Mr.. Stanch.ield asked
NeiseE, whether during his converEo
ions with Thaw. the latter did nor an.
pear TO be entirely rational
Deputy Attorney General Cool, r,i..,
objection and the crucial battle was nre-
| cipitatcd. Justice Page sustained the
objection. ~
! III YOU make this ruling on the
ground that it is not proper cross-ex
animation" declared Mr.. StanchfcId. "I
accept But II you rule that question Is
not relevant we wish TO be heard"
KNOWING HE WAS SANE,
HE TOOK "FRENCH LEAyEn
The jury was excused from the room.
! and Mr.. Stanchfeld and Morgan ].
OBrien. his associate. set forth their