New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-07-14
THAW DECLARED
SANE BY JURY
Verdict Returned After About An
Hours DeIberatiOn
JUSTICE MADE BRIEF CHARGE
Reported State viii Appeal If Justice
Holds Matteawan Fugitive Sane
Y. S. Senator's Ollie James and
Hugres in Court.
The jury returning
about 3:45 declared Thaw
sane
LATE A. p. DISPATCH.

New York, July 14-Harry K.
Thaw, the slayer of stanford White.
was declared sane by jury in the
supreme court after about an hours
elaboration, at 3:45 p. M, today.
Y The case went to the jury at 1853 p.
m, today after brief charge by the
court
Justice Hendricks charge to the
jury lasted hardly more than ten
minutes. He reviewed with great
breyity the legal aspects of the case
and told the jurors that they were to
consider all the evidence. They were
not to concern themselves, the court
charged, with any previous acts of
Thaw as such 2 sssssss u ~
The question to be determined.n
Justice Hendrick said is whether
Thaw is sane now The Justice did
not intimate whether he would be
guided wholly by the verdict in deter
mining Thaw's mental condition. The
jury is acting in a capacity purely adj
visory to the court. Justice Hendrick
can reverse their verdict should he
deem 1t contrary to the evidence.
May Disregard Verdict.
AS the jury is acting really in an
advisory capacity, Justice Hendrick
may disregard any verdict it may rem
der e5
It was reported today that If JUS
tice Hendrick decided that Thaw is
sane the state would at once take an
appeal.
Cook Sums Up For State.
In summing up the case of tho
state. Deputy Attorney Central Frank
Cook. sS etciled the life or Thaw from
the time of his birth until he was de-
ported from Canada after his escape
from the state hospital for the GRIM
inal insane at Matteawan. He re-
called to the jury that Thaw had
thrice been declared insane and told
of an alleged attempt to stab a fell
low student at Harvard university, of
his alleged attempt to shoot a cab
man, and of a fight in an all-night
New York restaurant in which he was
hit on the head with water bottle
Thaw was insane during all this
time Mr.. Cook went on; The was in
sane when he shot and killed STAN
ford White;s there is no doubt of that
And the same conditions prevail to-
day"
Mr.. Cook repeatedly turned from
the jury box and shook his finger at
Thaw, sitting five feet away. He re-
ferred time and again to Evelyn Mes
bit Thaw as that true virgin of his"
Thaw meanwhile seemed to be una
ware that Mr.. Cook was anywhere
nearby. He chated with his coun-
sci and once turned and smiled at
friend sitting among the spectators.
U. S. Senator's Present.
During the later part of Mr..
Cooks summing up. United States
Senators Ollie James of Kentucky,
Hughes of New Jersey entered the
court room and took seats on the
bench with Justice Hendrick. Mr..
Stancnfield, counsel for Thaw. began
by declaring that neither he nor the
court was concerned with the pre-
vious actions of Thaw THE ques-
tion, said Mr.. Stanchfield, Z is whe-
Their he is sane today
Counsel then took UP the remark
made on the stand yesterday by
DIR. Austin Flint, chief alienist for
the state, that THE unwritten law
does not go here" He said that le-
galIys DR.. Flint was right, but that
technically he was wrong. He re-
lated several cases, among them that
of the late General Daniel E. Sickles
in an attempt to show that aroused
passion, resulting in killing mad often
been excused by juries. Aroused pas
sion and intense hatred of man who
had wronged the woman ne loved,
said Mr. Stanchfield, caused Thaw to
kill Stanford White.
Reads jerks Decision.
Mr.. Stanchfield read to the jury a
portion of decision by Justice jerks
in a litigation in which Thaw was
In this the justice point
ed out that Thaw, having been ac-
Quilted of murder, his commitment |
to Matteawan was not in the nature !!
of punishment but was for the pur-
pose OF restraining an alleged insane !
person who at large might be a men,
ace, to the place of the community. !
Such a commitment, according to |
Justice jerks, was valid only so long /
as the person committed might re-.
main insane.
Mr.. Stanchfield discussed the case |
Of Thaw in every detail, including the /
finding of the commission appointed !
by the federal courts to examine Thaw !
he was in New Hampshire, sub
seauent to his deportation from Can
ada.