Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1908 — SECOND TRIAL OF HARRY K. THAW IS ON [ARTICLE]

SECOND TRIAL OF HARRY K. THAW IS ON

Young Millionaire Who Shot Stanford White Again Face* the ‘ Charge of Murder. SCENE IN NEW YORK COURT. Evelyn Will Repeat Her Story, but “Unwritten Law” Will Not Be Belled On. - r; • -- —_ KThe second trial of Harry Kendall Thaw, the young. Pittsburg swell and spendthrift, for the murder of Stanford White, the New York architect and man about town, is again under way. It was tedious vyork securing a jury. The first trial was reported so completely and was so widely read In all Its-sensational and nauseating details that an attempt to secure twelve men who had not read of the case and formed more or less of an opinion was hopeless. The most acceptable jurors then, were those who could swear that despite reading an opinion they eould judge Thaw’s guilt or Innocence purely on the evidence submitted to them. As to the actual commission of the deed, of course, there Is no question. The defense Is not to combat that palpable fact. Neither Is it relying, as Delmas did In the first trial, on “the unwritten law.” Martin W. Littleton, Delmas’ successor as chief counsel, depends entirely bn the plea that Thaw was-Insane and irresponsible at the time of the shooting. The prosecution is devoting itself to proving the commission of the crime and to controverting the evidence for the defense. Littleton will put Evelyn Thaw upon the stand and she will tell her story all over again. This is neces---sary in order to demonstrate that there was reason for Thaw’s attack of ‘brainstorm” or insanity, but the young wife will not be handled as tenderly by the prosecution in cross-questioning as she was before. Jerome lias had one of his assistants follow out the European tour, mile by mile, which Thaw and the girl took before marriage and will be able to catch up the witness at every misstatement as to that trip. Evelyn has so far been in daily attendance on the trial and is putting up the same bluff of appearing in the simple garb of an ingenuous school girl, though she is a mature woman with ex-

periences enough back of her to till several lifetimes. Her girlish, almost infantile, appearance and her counterfeiting of confiding Innocence at first trial had a tremendous effect. It is doubtful If they* will be much of a lever this time in moving public opinion or in Impressing the Jury. Judge Victor J. Dowling is doing all be cun to expedite the proceedings. There has been at this second trial no great crush to attend the proceedings, though there is a dally assemblage outSlile to see Evelyn pass from tier automobile to tiie court room or to see Thaw cross the ''brWgCof&igJlß".oUhb way back to the Tombs. Thaw Is In good health. Regular hours, plain food and forced decency of life have had a good effect on bls physical condition.