Evening star., 1915-06-23
-THAW TAKESSTAND
AS FIRST WITNESS

NEW YORK. June 23.-Harry K.
Thaw took the stand today as the first
witness in the trial before a jury to
determine his sanity.
Before Thaw was permitted to testify
Deputy Attorney General Cook asked
! to be heard on behalf of the state. Mr..
Cook declared that the state had no in
terest in the case other than as to
whether Thaw was insane and a
menace to society.
we will show you that he is suffer-
ing frors incurable insanity" said the
states attorney.
Mr. Cook declared that he would show
"by Thaw'S mother that she was Suf-
fering from nervous prostratlon when
he was born.
This fact, said the attorney, had af-
fected Thaw all his life.
/ 1--WE will show you that in his child
hood Thaw talked gibberish and that
his teachers had to talk his language
he said Thaw's paranoia was in evil
dence Throughout his youth he asserted
| Thaw, he continued, had hidden be-
hind the skirts of Evelyn Nesbit, who
was the only witness who had testi-
fed as to the depravty of Stanford
White.
Testifies in Low Tones.
| Thaw then was called to the stand
| Mr.. Stanchfield began to question him
| in a low tone of voice and Thaw an
swered in equally modulated tones He
identified his mother, sister and broth
er, who were sitting in the courtroom
at the request of the attorney.
| When you left Matteawan did you
! believe you had recovered your san
i ity?" he was asked
Il believed was sane" said the wit
| ness.
| physicians had told you so?"
'They had.
Thaw was taken over the history
of his escape to Canada and his sub
Sequent movements.
You formed acquaintances at vari-
Gus of the places where you stopped"
It was very fortunate in forming
asquaintances.' was the reply Mr..
Stansfield asked the witness to give
names. dates and places in great de-
tail and this Thaw did without hesi-
tation.
"It is a fact that while you were
staying in Manchester. N. H., you en-
tertained friends and acquaintances
and in turn were entertained by them"
That is right" replied the witness.
Tells of Sanity Examination.
Thaw was asked to tell of the exam
ination of his sanity made in Man
chester by the federal commission in
connection with the proceedings to ex-
tradite him to New York. He named
the members of the commission and
told how it came to be appointed
Physicians representing Pittsburgh
bank had also come to see him in Man
chester. said Thaw, but l. did not give
them much of an examination"
This Pittsburgh bank honored your
check, did they not?"
,, Yes, and the banks in New Hamp-
shire. Canada and elsewhere" said the
witness.
Mr. Stanchfield then turned the wit
ness over to the states attorney, but
Deputy Attorney General Cook an
nounced that he would not cross-ex
anime at this time. Thaw was then
excused. and with grave demeanor re-
turned to his seat at the counsel table
Former Jurors Heard.
John E. Blackburn. one of the jurors
who acquitted Thaw of conspiracy to
escape from Matteawan, the next wit
ness, said that Thaw's actions on the
stand and in the courtroom during
that proceeding seemed to be those of
a rational man.
Blackburn was followed by John H.
Holbert, a member of the jury that
acquitted Thaw at his second murder
trial He testified that the verdict
was given on the ground that Thaw
was insane at the time of the act.
At the time of the trial Thaw's ac-
tions and demeanor impressed him as
that of rational man. he said
The states attorney then read to the
witness a rambling note which he said
was one that Thaw had written and
passed to his counsel during the trial.
Does that change your opinion?"
ut does not" replied the witness, who
was then excused.
Thaw during this examination was
busily writing notes.