Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1909 — MATTEAWAN FOR THAW ONCE MORE [ARTICLE]

MATTEAWAN FOR THAW ONCE MORE

Justice Mills Decides Wile's Slayer Still Crazy. OUTWARDLY CALM AT NEWS Opinion of Judge Is That Young Pittsburg Man Has Not Recovered From Insanity and That Public Peace and Safety Would Be Endangered by Setting Him at Large—Good Grounds For Evelyn’s Divorce. White Plains, N. Y„ Aug. 13.—Harry K. Thaw’s latest attempt to gain his liberty met with complete and disheartening defeat when Supreme Court Justice Mills the writ of habeas corpus and decided that “the release of the petitioner would be dangerous to the public peace and safety.” All the contentions of Thaw’s adversary, District Attorney Jerome, are supported, and it is declared that Thaw Is still Insane, still suffering from persistent delusions, and still as much a paranoiac as on the day he shot Stanford White. Family Stunned at Decision. Thaw received the news with an outward calmness. The members of his family and his attorney seemed stunned by the thoroughness of their defeat. Thaw declined to give out any extended statement, contenting himself with the assertion that he was not disheartened and would at once continue his fight for liberty. Justice Mills In his opinion reaches three formal conclusions: That Thaw was Insane when he killed White; that he has not yet recovered, and that public peace and safety would be endangered by setting him at large. He upholds District Attorney Jerome’s contentions that Thaw still cherishes delusions regarding the practices of Stanford White and his associates. He characterizes Evelyn Thaw’s tale of the Madison Square tower room, and similar stories about White told at the sanity hearing, as “wild and grossly Improbable, evidently to any normal mind grossly exaggerated.” He asserts his belief In the testimony of Susan Merrill regarding Thaw’s alleged pervert practices, and points out the contrast between Thaw’s chivalrous attitude as a protector of young American womanhood, and his private life. Grounds For Evelyn’s Divorce. ' 1 Not the least significant sentence fn Justice Mills’ decision In the opinion of lawyers here is one which declares that Thaw’s “delusions had become fixed and established prior to the time of his marriage.” It Is pointed out that this sentence, may, if desired, prove grounds for proceedings by Mrs. Evelyn Thaw for the annulment of her marriage. Mrs. Thaw, after talking over the situtation with her son, wrote out the following statement: "Let no one imagine for a moment on reading this opinion of Judge Mills that It means a victory for the district attorney of the county of New York.” Thaw’s next legal move will be to the court of appeals for a jury trial.