HARRY THAW ESCAPES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 5

HARRY THAW ESCAPES.

ELUDES HIS GUARDS.

MOTOR DASH AND FLIGHT TO EUROPE. NOTORIOUS CASE REVIVED. By Telegrapli—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 18, 10.35 p.m.) New York, August 18. Harry K. Thaw, who killed Stanford White on June 25, 190G, has escaped from tho Hospital for Insane Criminals at Matteawan—to wihicli he was • committed as tho result of his notorious trial—in the early morning. He darted, through an open gate, through an open door outside, where an automobile was standing, and dashed across- Connecticut State boundary. Five of liis confederates manned the car. Tho police have the license number, of tho car, and the names of those who registered at the hotel. The hospital authorities believe that the fugitive; made for tho Long Island 6hore, off'which a yacht was waiting to convey him to Europe. v The superintendent of the asylum, whom Thaw rushed past, has been arrested. Other an-ests are expected. Five hundred dollars reward has been offered for his recapture. Thaw's 'escape was rendered possible through a declaration by the prisoner that unless ho was legally liberated ho would not escape. He was getting extra ■ privileges. Mrs. Thaw is staying in New York owing to her fear of her husband's threats.

The Thaw case has been, before the Ariierioan public on. innumerable occasions since June, 1906, when Thaw killed Stanford White, a well-known architect, whom ho accused of immorality with Mrs. Thaw. The case was one of the most unsavoury on record, even in America. Thaw was placed on trial in January, 1907, and the jury disagreed in April. The second trial began eight montlis later, and in February of 1903 Thaw was acquitted on the ground of insanity and sent to Jlatteawan Asylum. He had been there only a few weeks when lie obtained a writ of habeas corpus, and a long hearing resulted in his being sent back to the asylum. A few weeks later another writ was obtained, and another long "hearing would have' followed If Thaw's , counsel had not decided that an attempt to obtain tho removal of liis client to Pennsylvania in bankruptcy proceedings offered better hopo of success. On that attempt failing another writ was applied for and granted. But tlie Judge's decision to send tho enso for hearing to New York County did not meet tlie wishes of counsel, wflio accordingly nfter a short interval obtained a new writ. Tho result was a further hearing, which ■ ended in the Judge finding that Thaw was suffering from the form of insanity known, as paranoia. TJie'hearing had all tho detail and ciroumstanco of a criminal trial: Witness followswitne.ss; alienists are marshalled on either side; the testimony of previous trials was read,. and there were numerous exhibits.