Evening journal., 1917-01-12
FEAR THAW NAY
HAVESWAbLOWED
POISON tablets
Life of White Slayer Today
Hangs Upon Thread
of Doubt
WON'T FIGHT EXTRADITION
IF HIS LIFE IS Spared
BY The United Press.

J. Dg ne 0Nlteu INthes
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 12.-Harry
Kendall Thaw's life hangs today upon
a thread Of doubt. Physicians at St
Mary's Hospital in a statement to
The United Press today. declared that
Thaw has chance for recovery il
he did not swallow any of the deadly
poison tablets which were missing
from a bottle found in his pocket.
! The fact that the man whose meteo-
ric career held the attention Of two
continents might have poisoned him
self before he slashed his throat and
wrists with razor yesterday is a
cause for great concern, physicians
admitted today.
( DR., John T. Austrab, resident at St
Mary's, today said
I'VE are on a fence. Thaws condi-
ton is still in doubt mainly lyecause
we cannot determine whether he took
any Of the poison. which would GER
tainly kill him. It will probably be
several days before his stomach can
be analyzed"
In the meantime every preventive to
counteract the action of the poison. ii
ihaw did do what physicians seem to
fear, is being employed 1haw had re.
vNed somewhat this morning from tho
stupor in which he fingered throughout
yesterday
The wounds that 1haw slashed in his
throat and wrists were not deep enough
to bring about death. except bv slow
bleeding. He missed his iugllar vein
by bare eighth Of an inch. and the
main arteries of his wrists by the same
fraction. He had lost considerable blood,
however, before Mrs. Elizabeth Tacot in
whose home he attempted 20 end his life,
found him.
While physicians were battling 60
save his life, friends outside st. Mary's
Hospital were preparing for an even
greater battle-a tight 10 save the
Pittsburgh millionaire from MatteawAu
il he lives 20 face trial on the indict-
ment that charges him with having
hogged Frederick Cump, in.
Or. Walter Riddell. of the Mellon
Institute. OF Pittsburgh. and Frank
Johnston. New York friend Of the
family, are here today. prepared 10
assist In both battles. Ii is prob
able. the police say. that Thaw will
not fight eytradition r he recOvers
bu. VIII wage his fight in New York.
Samuel G.. Maloney. a detective al
tachcd to the Val OFarrell Agency,
who has been guarding Thaw here
since Monday, and took him 20 the
house in West Philadelphia, gave first
intimation of what this fight will be
based upon. He branded Frederick
Gumps story of being fogged in the
AIcAlpin Hotel. New York. as false
and a case Of "blackmail. pure and
simple
Both Maloney and O'FarreIl were
taken To detective headquarters late
last night and Quizzed by Captain
Tate for fully an hour. They were
asked to explain why they had per-
mitted Thaw to remain in the city
under guard since Tuesday. without
causing his arrest. When It was
explained that MolOney was to take
Thaw to New York this morning and
deliver him 10 District Attorney
Swami. they were permitted to go.
Thas was permitted to lie in the
room where ne slashed himself from
1870 yesterday morning until nearly
2 o'clock I'm the afternoon because II
was feared the excitement OF sudden
removal would have been bad for him,
Il was explained Three physicians,
including DR.. Elwood Kirby. who was
retained at the request OF Mrs Mary
COpley ThaW, Harry's mother. in
telegram from Pittsburgh, dressed his
injuries ii was pointed out.
Maloney found Thaw in the Belle
vue-Stratford Hotel Tuesday. New
York and Philadelphia detectives were
d No 1rfa
the city with apparent safety. We'd
nesday hewas on a party" and the
same evening went to the theater. A
number OF friends are known 10 have
recognized him and the ,heater Is but
a block from City Hall.
Maloney vas taking Thaw direct
to New York it was stated. because
the millionaire mad objected that he
lid not want "to be arrested like an
ordinary criminal" District Attorney
Rotsn was notified bv wire and telo-
phone that Th2w would surrender
ThaN WAS taken Ia srs. Tacots resi-
dence and introduced as "lfr. Harry
West" While his nerves were being
qCiotcd. Until tie woman heard police
mention the name o. Harry Thaw"
shc did not know who her strange
guest was. no action will be taken
toward her
Tho police will take no chances
d repetition of Thaw's thrilling escape
from Matteawan. Six detectives
working in two shifts, are constantly
at his bedside When he looked
around and saw them Thaw madc no
comment, but turned over and ap-
parently went 60 sleep agail