Evening star., 1924-04-10
THAW NEAR FREEDOM
ON @. X. OF ALiENISTS
Sanity Ruling Expected at Court
j. Proceedings in Philadelphia
? Next Week.
HELD NEW YORK FUGITIVE
Empire State Authorities Have
: Claim on Slayer.
BY ROBERT Il. SMALL.

Enecial Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April 1O.-News comes
from Philadelphia that Harry, Ken
dali Thaw, slayer of Stanford White,
IS about to be declared sane by the
five alienists who were appointed by
the court to examine him. This means
that the court proceedings in his be-
half, to be held in the Quaker City
next week, probably will result ia
vorably to the young Pittsburgh mill
lionaire, whose career has been
watched the whole world over. 1t all
means that within very short time
Harry Thaw will be a free man so
far as Pennsylvania is concerned.
This does not mean, by any stretch
OF the imagination, however, that
Harry Thaw will be. free to come
hack to the white lights of Broad
way, or to the moaning jazz bands
that mark the night life of the great
city. he may be able to smuggle
hlmSelf into and out of New York
occasionally, but any idea that he
VII be able TO resume the gay life
which led up to the shooting OF STAN
ford White some seventeen years ago
Is quite amiss.
still Regarded Fugitive.
So far as the New York, state rec
ords go, Harry Thaw is a fugitive
from justice. He stands committed
to the state asylum for the criminal
insane at Matteawan. His escape
from this institution several years
ago and his fight to Canada were
incidents Of national Importance. If
Thaw conNinces the PhiIadelphia
court that he is sane, entitled to his
freedom and to the control of his es-
late, which is said to have increased
In value about 81 900 900 since his in
generation, he will still be barred
from New York state unless he
.h9oses to go back to Matteawan and
take his chances of being pronounced
cured by tribunal in this state
1t Is IhawS intention, according to
me reports received here, TO proceed
at once to Pittsburgh and take up his
residence there with his mother, Mrs
Mary Copley Thaw, and to lead a life
as nearly approaching usefulness ard
normalcy as his condition will permit
According to those who know his
present physical and mental condi-
ton, the fact that he is barred from
New York state is likely to prove
more irksome and unsettling than
anything else in Thaw's new career.
A man OF middle age now. with
ron-gray hair Harry Thaw is re-
ported to be a Very different individ-
uai from the man who was COM
mttted to the asylum in Philadelphia
as means of avoiding his extra
dltlon to New York to answer a stat
utory charge for an offenSe against
young boy in addition to his unserv-
ed commitment TO the asylum for the
insane.
Prosecutor Relentless Foe.
Harry Thaw's nemesis in New York
state is supposed to be William Trav-
crS Jerome. who as district ottOrney
. Of 10
murder trials in 1907 and 1905. Mr..
jerome declared at that time that. so
long as he lived he would always
fight an attempt to give Harry Thaw
his freedom. He WAS fully convinced
the accused man was insane and he
was also convinced that his ailment
was incurdble That was the testi-
mony of the eminent alienists en-
ployed by the state. But apparently
there are other alienists who believe
that ThaW has been completely and
permanently cured
If this be true, there is no reason
at all why he should not surrender
himself to the New York authorities,
apply for habeas corpus proceedings
and be declared sane and free agent
in this state. There could be no sue
cessfui prosecution of the statutory
charge against ThaW,. because he has
settled the case with the boys par
ents and there could he no complain
ing witnesses against him.
Jerome Now in Bermuda.
1t so hapepns at this time that
Mr. Jerome is out of the state and
the time would be propiuouS Tor
Thaw to attempt to earn his free-
dom. Mr.. Jerome has gone to Ber-
muda for a vacation. He is a rather
old man now. seventeen years after
his brilliant prosecution of the ThaW
case and he has gone to Bermuda
to drink SOME Bass ale. When he
will be back no one knows But If he
hears that Thaw is about to be set
free the know ledge i certain to
hasten his return.
1t always has been aid here that
Thaw, in freedom. would attempt to