Harry Thaw Trial 1907
Testimony of Paul Brudi, the fireman who disarmed Thaw
Brudi: “I remember hearing only two shots, when I rushed up and grabbed the prisoner, who had his arms uplifted.”
Garvan: “Did you hear the defendant say anything after the shooting?”
Brudi: “Yes. He said ‘He ruined my wife.’”
Garvan: “Did he say anything else?”
Brudi:“No.”
Garvan: “Did you hear any one say anything to him?”
Brudi: “His wife.”
Garvan: “What did she say?”
Brudi: “Look at the fix you are in.”
Garvan: “Did he reply?”
Brudi: “I did not hear him say anything else.”
Testimony of Officer A. L. Debes, arresting officer
Garvan: “Did you have any conversation with Thaw?”
Debes: “I did. I asked the prisoner if he had shot Stanford White, and he said, ‘I did.’ I then asked him why he shot him and he said, ‘Because he ruined my wife—or life.’”
Garvan: “You could not distinguish whether he said wife or life?”
Debes: "No. Thaw then asked where we were going and I replied, 'to the station house,’ and he said, 'All right. After this I turned him over to another officer and went upstairs to get witnesses...."
Garvan: “Did you hear any remark credited to the defendant’s wife that night?”
Debes: “Yes.”
Garvan: “Where was it?”
Debes: “On the ground floor of the Twenty-sixth street entrance.:
Garvan: “What did she say?”
Debes: “‘Harry why did you do it?’ and he replied, ‘It will be all right.’”