Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-12
HARRY K. THAW
TAKES STAND IN
HIS OWN BEHALF
Slayer Of Stanford White
Makes Interesting Witness
as He Tells Why He Escaped
From MatteaWan,
t.y ~oDp,rs ,ouAn.. SPECIAL ls.sso was,

IsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEAsSo wlesl
New York, March H. - Harry *.
Thaw took the stand in his own be-
half this afternoon at his trial.
charged with conspiracy In escaping
from Matteawan asylum and gave the
jurors opportunity to judge for them
selves as to whether he was rational.
His attorney, Mr.. Stanchfield, placed
him in the witness chair after repeat
ed attempts to get evidence into the
record concerning Thaw's sanity had
failed Justice Page had ruled out all
testimony of this character as i'm
proper
Thaw testified in loud. clear
voice aud kept his eyes directly upon
stanchlield.
In reply to questions he said, there
were three writs of habeas corpus on
which l appeared in court None Of
the wr!ts had a Jury trial | was told
however, | might have had a jury trial
the last time, had my counsel Request
ed IT,
Population of Matteawan.
Thaw then told of the time he left
Matteawan and where he had gone.
What was the insane population OF
Nlatteawan In 1892" asked Mr..
Stanchfield.
About eight or nine hundred re-
piled Thaw.
In reply TO other questions Thaw
said: by August, 1913. | had come
to believe that II would be an impOs-
sibity for me to get out by legal
terms | was informed that the meth
DDS by which people usually got out
would be unsuccessful in my case"
Thaw then said he slept in a ward
with score or more persons who
were insane.
when they would become violent.
he went on, they were put in straight
jackets"
The prosecutions objection to that
line of evidence was sustainedi
Never Authorized Insanity Plea.
The direct examination ended,
Thaw was cross examined by Deputy!
Attorney General FRANKLIN Cook.
do you remember when you plead |
ed not guilty on the ground of in
sanity?" asked Mr.. Cook.
Yes, | remember that Thaw re-
piled. "The plea was made by Martin |
Littleton, my counsel, but ! did not
authorize IT. II was made without |
my permission
Mr.. Cook started to ask further
questions about the insanity plea !
when Mr.. Stanchfeld objected. The
objection was sustained. Thaw was
then questioned at length about the
writs Of habeas corpus he has sued
out. He said former Governor Stone
Of Pennsylvania was among the per-
sons who had told him he could not
hope to gain his liberty by habeas
corpus writs.
Relations With Anhut
ThaW said he had inquired as to the
probability of obtaining from the va
Tlous superintendent certificate of
recovery, but that he had never ac-
tually made an application for one.
Where did you first meet a law
yer named Anhut?" asked Mr.. Cook.
AT Matteawan,' replied Thaw
Did you have a business relation
with Anhut?"
Mr.. Stanchfield's objection to the
question was sustained.
Judge Page excluded any reference
to Anhut's alleged attempt at bribery
the idea behind the next several
questions.
ADVISED TO Walk Out.
Thaw said any number of people
besides Mr.. Lewis had advised HIM
that there was nothing Illegal about
his walking out of Matteawan proVld-
ed ne cared to do 50 and did not en-
ploy violence or corrupt any one"
Who were the five men who came
with the Automobiles asked Mr..
Cook.
Il didn't know them" replied
Thaw.
Thaw said he had instructed Hott-
man, his agent, to have the landaulet
at the gate and the big machine AT
the bottom of the hill"
How much did you pay and who
did you pay for this iob?' asked Mr..
Cook |
Escape Cost $4,000.
Il paid MIR. Butler $4,000, with the
understanding that he was to pay all
the others for the trip from Mattea-
wan to Connecticut" Thaw replied.
How much did you pay Roger
Thompson for the trip to Canada
Il paid him salary and gave MIN
present" Thaw said.
How much was the present.
An objection by Thompson's attor
neys was sustained.
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