Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-12
ThaW Tells Story
 of His Escape
PAID $6,ooo TO GET OVER LINE
 INTO CONNECTICUT.
$1,OOOTOREACH CANADA
Nervous When He First Took Stand, But Gained Confidence as Jury at Times.

New York, March Hilary Ken dau Thaw went upon the witness stand today and told the complete story of his escape from the state hos pital for the criminal insane at Mat teaWan. A dual purpose, his attorneys said, promoted him to do so. Primarily he desired to tell his story in such a manner as to convey to the jury, which is trying him and his co-defendantS nan indictment charging conspiracy, ar idea that he had recovered his req son. He wished also to take all the blame for the escape.
 $6,ooo to Get Into Connecticut.
 He testified that the men who the state alleges conspired with him were not actually conspirators, but men whom he had employed to assist him out of the state after he himself had effected his escape. He said he paid them $6,000 for their services and that he gave Roger Thompson, who accom- panied him to Canada, "a present of Sl,OOO.' The witness declared that he thought he had a legal right to flee from the hospital, as he believed him self sane, and that had he remained there his reason would ultimately have been dethrOned.
 Court Refused Sanity Testimony.
 Thaw told his story after his attor- neys had made many vain atatempts to get into the record the testimony of half dozen alienists and more than score of laymen who before and since his escape have had opportunities to observe his actions. The presiding su- preme court justice, however, refused to admit any more of this testimony than would show that Thaw had suffi- c1ent mental capacity to enter into conspiracy. The law of New York provides that an insane person may commit a crime if he has sufficient mental capacity to know that he is doing a criminal act and has an inten- tiOn to commit 1t.
 Thaw Under Cross Examination.
 When adjournment was taken this evening, with Thaw still on the wit ness stand, under cross examination, he had but four co-defendants instead of live. After the state had closed it's case Michael O'Keefe, upon the mo- .tion of counsel, was discharged, as no 'evidence had been adduced to connect him with the alleged crime.
 Thaw testified later, however, he had five employees" Special Deputy At torney General Kennedy in charge of the prosecution, considered that Thaw had so involved himself and the four co-defendants that he requested the court to cancel their bail bonds and to confine them in the Tombs prison until a erdict could be reached.
 The court complied with the request. The defense will be completed tomor- row morning and the case should therefore be in the hands of the jury before night.
 Suffering from Rheumatism.
 Thaw was still suffering with rheu- matism when he entered court this morning. Tn eneck of a heavy sweater was turned up to his ears and a shawl was thrown over one shoulder.
 Thaw Nervous.
 It was nearly half past three when Thaw took the witness chair. At first he kept his eyes upon the face of John B. Stanchfeld, who was leading him through a direct examination. He ap- peared to be exceedingly nervous, for he unfolded his hands, twisted around in the chair and changed the position of his feet continually. He began by answering questions in monosyllables. Interest of Jury Gave Him Confidence.
 After the examination had been in progress a half hour, however, Thaw began to talk more. He looked over at the jurymen, who themselves were all sitting forward in their seats so that they might hear every word said. It seemed that the interest of the jury gave him confidence, for from then on, in answer to every question, he went into lengthy explanation. Neither his attorneys or the attorney for the prose- cution attempted to stop him. They let him answer every question as com- pletely as he desired.
 Showed Signs of Impatience.
 On cross examination Thaw several times showed signs of impatience with the manner in which assertive ques- tions were asked him by Frank E. Cook, deputy attorney general: Each time. however, he quickly became apologetic and said that he intended to answer MT. Cooks questions to the best of his ability.