Murderer Extradited Back To The US From Canada

Harry Kendall Thaw was heir to a multi-million dollar mine and railroad fortune, Thaw had a history of mental instability and was expelled from Harvard for “immoral practices,” and intimidating and threatening fellow students and teachers. He was given three hours to pack up and move out. His membership in the prestigious Union League Club of New York was revoked for “behavior unbefitting a gentleman.” when he rode a horse up the steps into the club’s entrance way.

In 1905, after pursuing her for four years, Thaw married showgirl/model Evelyn Nesbit. Nesbit had been intimate friends with renowned architect Stanford White who had advised her against any relationship with the unstable Thaw. Thaw, who had a paranoid obsession that White was blocking him socially and sending criminals to kill him, went into a drug-fueled rage. In June 1906, on the rooftop of Madison Square Garden, Thaw murdered White by coming up from behind and shooting him in the head.

There a were two trails while Thaw waited in prison, sleeping on a comfortable brass bed and eating meals catered by Delmonico’s. . After one hung jury, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to the Mattewan Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Immediately after his commitment to Matteawan, Thaw marshaled the forces of a legal team charged with the mission of having him declared sane but with no success.

In 1913, Thaw escaped from Mattewan and with his family’s aid, fled to Canada. Extradition was sought and the Sheriff of Quebec seized Thaw and held him under guard until December 1914 when extradition was granted.

On January 25, 1915 Harry Thaw was extradited back to the US, arriving in New York City to waiting law enforcement officers. His lawyers are seeking a new trial to declare him sane.