Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-05
| JEROME IN A CLASH
He Offends Court by Refusal to
Obey Instructions.
ALL ABOUT AUTHORITIES
Thaw Bored With the Testimony Of
the Experts.
HIS MOTHER SOON TO TESTIFY
She Will Tell Of Sons Weaknesses and
Peculiarities, It is Thought-Dr.
Wagner's Evidence.
HIS MOTHER SOON TO TESTIFY
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, March 5.-District At
torney Jerome spent another tedious
morning expert wrestling today without
coming much nearer to finding out just
what sort of a brain storm it was that
overwhelmed Harry Thaw on the night
he killed Stanford White than he had
after three days of questioning LIZ.
Evans. Mr.. Jerome followed the same
tack in questioning DIR. Wagner today
that he used in examining DR.. Evans yes
terday-an attempt to find out just what
sort of insanity 1t was that attacked
Harry Thaw on the night of June 70 and
forced him to kill Stanford White.
He opened the cross-examination by hav-
ing the doctor describe brain storms he had
known. DIR. Wagner had to acknowledge
that he had never known a case of extreme
mental stress which had resulted in case
just like that Of Thaw.
Storms and Motives.
tie COulQ not cite any luSldACc wACio NHS
brain storm came on and cleared up within
ten minutes nor could he remember any
instance where 1t came on without appar-
ent agitation or when the act of violence
was committed with apparent elaboration.
Nor could he remember any case where
strong motive went along in conjunction
with the brain storm and they both worked
out together
Mr. Jerome went thoroughly into DR..
Wagner's physical examination of Thaw
from him the information that the test of
nerves which they gave Thaw was for the
purpose of finding if he were suffering from
paresis. They could find no traces of paresis,
but Mr.. Jerome went quietly into the de-
tails of the examination. and consumed
nearly the whole morning session in learn
ing just what nerves were examined, how
and why.
More About Brain Storms.
The prospect that Mrs. William Thaw,
the white-haired mother Of the defendant,
might be a witness today at the trial of
Harry K. Thaw tended to revive interest in
the hearing of the case before Justice Fttz-
gerald. -
DR.. Charles G. Wagner, superintendent
of the State Hospital for the Insane at
Binghamton, was recalled to the stand for
his cross-examination. District Attorney
Jerome began reading the latter part of
DR.. Wagner's testimony yesterday regard
ing the characteristics of brain storms, so
as to take up the line Of questioning where
it was left off. The witness yesterday re-
referred Mr.. Jerome to an instance of brain
storm cited in one of the medical authori-
ties. Today the prosecution asked if the
OF brain storm.
Thaw Indifferent.
DR.. Wagner said he could not recall any
off-han6.
Thaw, who had brought his customary
batch of letters into court with him, after
a brief whispered conversation with some
Of his counsel, proceeded to read a large
number of epistles. He then took a large
pad out of one Of his big brown paper
envelopes, secured pen and ink and began
to write letter. He was decidedly the
least interested spectator in the room. In
fact. the expert testimony throughout has
bored the prisoner immeasurably. His
present attitude is in sharp contrast to the
keen interest he displayed while his wife
was on the witness stand.
Mr.. Jerome asked DR.. Wagner il he
could cite brain storm in which the
onset took place in ten minutes. The doc
tor could not.
Does the calmness and deliberation with
which Thaw walked down the aisle of the
roof garden and shot White indicate any
thing about his mental condition? Is it
natural for a person suffering from a brain
storm to act in this manner" asked the
district attorney.
II have already told you that 1 cannot
lay down any rule as to conduct in in
sanity replied DIR. Wagner.
No Natural Way.
There is no natural way In which things
are done. Insanity in itself is unnatural.
l remember one case in which a patient
was out with a walking party and sud-
denly jumped into canal. climbed under
a culvert and was drowned. l remember
another case of a patient who took off
down on the floor, rested his neck in a
loop he made in the tie until he was
choked to DEATH
Have you ever known a person to COM
nit an act of homicide in brain storm by
going about ii with calmness and cool
ness?'
There are no two cases of insanity, or
even of sanity for that matter, which are
exactly similar
Since you will not answer my question
directly. am l right in assuming that you
have never observed a case of brain storm,
or mental Illumination in which. the person
committed acts of violence with calmness?"
The Same Answer.
Il prefer TO answer as l have Goodness
and elaboration does not accurately fit
any case / have ever known
"You couldn't tell what was going on in
the defendants brain. except what was
apparent to the eye, could your
NO"
Now, was there any single thing in the
hypothetical question indicative of brain
Storm
II can't tear the hypothetical question to