NEW YORK MURDER TRIAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 26

NEW YORK MURDER TRIAL

PLEA OF HEREDITARY INSANITY. NEW YORK, February 5. The case for the prosecution in the trial of Harry Thaw, charged with the murder of Stanford White, has closed. Mr Gkeson, counsel for the defence, pleaded hereditary insanity, declaring that Tha.w acted without malice and in self-defence, believing that threats had been made against him by White. The speech concluded -with an appeal to the jury to say whether they would not have done the same in his position, considering the stress, sense of wrong, and hereditary taint. ' February 6. In the tual of Hurry Thaw, charged •

with the murder of Stanford White, the accused's first medical witness was severely cross-examined regarding his medical knowledge and experience. Other witnesses were called to support the plea of hereditary insanity. The judge provisionally sustained' the contention of Mi? Jerome, counsel for the prosecution, that this evidence was irrelevant. February 7. At the trial of Harry Thaw, charged with the murder of Stanford White, cvi- ! dence was called to show, that Thaw's demeanour was irrational at the moment of the tragedy. Boman, the theatre stage door-keeper, testified that White in December, ISO 3, threatened to kill Thaw*' Witness informed the police and Thaw. The prosecution has now subpoenaed - Boman to prevent him from quitting tne jurisdiction of the court. v * Mr Delmas, instead of Mr Gleeson, now leads the defence of Harry .Thaw, charged * with the murder df Stanford White. -Mi: Delmas and others have threatened to* relinquish, their briefs owing to Tuesday's fiasco with a weak witness. ' February $. Thaw's wife was subjected to a painful cross-examination. She testified how White ensnared and mined her before-she was 16 years of age. For' this reason, she at first refused to marry Thaw, and when pressed for her reason she informed him of the ' whole circumstances. Thaw was greatly distressed, and declared fchafc any decent person would know that it was not her fault. Witness gave her evidence most impressively throughout, and described the tragedy and the scene immediately preceding it. Thaw's wife testified that White drugged her before he ruined her. February 9. i The examination of Mrs Thaw in the' trial of her husband, Harry Thaw, charged! with the murder of Stanford White, was resumed to-day. She stated that Whiteplotted with a notorious lawyer, Abei Hummel, to induce her to break off her" engagement with Thaw. Hummel told! 1 her about many acts of misconduct byl Thaw. She partly believed him, anoS allowed White to pay for her education.. After marriage White made many attempts' to renew his acquaintance. Documentary evidence produced showed that Thaw was wildly incensed and actedlike a maniac for months preceding the tragedy. February 11. The terrible story told by Mrs Thawi in her evidence at the trial of Harry Thaw, charged with the murder of Stanford White, has caused a great revulsion in public feeling in Thaw's favour. The defence intends to renew the effort to secure the admission of Thaw's extraordinary will, which bequeaths £15,000 for the maintenance of 6ix girls whom Thaw alleges White ruined, and also pro* vides £10,000 for the prosecution of any man who might cause Thaw himself to? be assassinated. The bulk of the propertyj is left to his wife. LONDON, February 8. Reuter reports that everybody in the! court was moved at the spectacle of ths beautiful young wife sacrificing all thati was dearer to her than.- life to save het husband. Her bearing at times was almost! child-like,' and the effect on the'jury' was* marked. The harrowing recital seemed? addressed directly to them. Thaw sobbed} while his wife, was giving her evidence "