Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-03
Ended the Discussion.

Ended the Discussion.
But they had not been admitted in evil
drnce" retorted Mr.. Hartridge.
Chairman Mcclure put an end to the dis
cussion by saying the Lyon letters were
not before the commission.
Dr Diefcndorf said the suggestion made
bv Thaw indicated a deusional state of
mind.
Did YOU think he had decisions when
he committed the homicide?" asked Chair
man Mcclure
les. replied the witness, who then
went into elaborate explanation of the
difference between medical and legal in
sanity. declaring that Thaw was medically.
but not legally, insane when he shot and
killed Stanford White.
Thaw Showed Decisions.
Under questioning by Mr.. Hartridge DR..
Diefendorf said that Thaws suggestions
10 Mr.. Delmas showed decisions simil,
to those indicated in the letters which
formed part of the district attorneys
hypothetical question at the trial
"On similar writings, then, you reach the
conclusion that at one time he was sane
and at another time insaneo" asked Mr..
Hartridge
Df Diefendorf said he would stand on his
answers He admitted he had never per-
sonally examined Thaw, but thought him
TO be suffering from paranoia.
Chairman Mcclure cross -examjned tho
MIness Tor twenty minutes or more in
SeHll-seCret fashion, the ATTORNEYS being
gathered about the commissioners desk
anu the questions and answers being in
tones inaudtble beyond the circle Sudden
" District Attorney jerome broke the ouiet
b9 saying i'll loud voice:
Put Himself in Position.
must object to the questions being put
W TINS witness by the commission. They
are not proper Characterization, and if
you VIII pardon my frankness in saying so.
you are trying to put this gentleman in a
dishonorable position-of swearing to one
thing at one time and another thing at an
othef You must remember he swore upon
one set or facts at the trial and upon a
different set of facts today"
II TINS witness Is in a dishonorable posi-
ton. interrupted Mr. Hartridee he mt
himself in it. That's all there is to that"
The cross examination of DR.. Diefendorf
was speedily concluded.
Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit ThaW WAS not in tn.
court room when the commission began its
session but made her appearance while Dr.
Dlefendorf was testifying.
The denfense asked permission to call two
more Witnesses-Dr. Charles e. Wagner of
Blnshamton, n. Y, and DR.. William A.
White OF Washington. D. c.. Both physi-
clans testified for Thaw at his trial DR.
wagner first took the stand.
Talked Nationally.
DR. Wagner declared that throughout the
trial IhaW had acted and conversed in an
entirely rational manner. He fully under
stood the nature of the proceedings against
him. and had advised with his attorneys in
the hearing of the doctor. DR. Wagner
said he had talked with Thaw as late as
this morning. when he discussed he trial
for more than half an hour
On cross-eXamination District Attorney
Jerome showed DIR. Wagner the suggestions
Thaw made to Mr. Delmas for his summing
up, and asked:
Assuming these not to have been written
as a joke. but in good faith by man on
trial for his life. is 1t your opinion they are
the product OF a sane and normal mindo"
There are many very excellent SUCCESS
tons among those made by Mr.. Thaw"
replied the doctor.
DR. Wa ..er told the commission he had
testified at the trial that Thaw was insane
when he shot and killed Stanford White,
and was insane for two months afterward
in the Tombs.
Are you prepared. doctor. in view of all
you know of this defendant his family his
tory etc. to say that he is sane man to-
day." asked Mr.. Jerome
Il am not here to state that positively"
said Dr. Wagner. From my conversation
course with him during the trial. / am
forced TO say that l was unable to discover
anything to warrant the opinion that he is
not sane.
Mr.. Jerome's efforts to secure a more
direct reply were Intellectual.
Dr. wagner repeated to the commission
some OF his more recent conversations
with Thaw. When he first saw Thaw in
the Tombs the prisoner said he had acted
agent of Providence in dispatching
stanford White. Il talked with him on
that subject this morning" continued Dr.
Wagner. and asked him if he still thought
there was any supernatural agency in the
killing of Stanford White. He said no. he
was convinced there was not | asked
him IL he thought his present condition
was serious. He said he thought il had
been very serious. but he thought his at
torneys had made such progress at the
trial that his position was not SO serious
as at first.
Sane Man Now
II asked Mr.. Thaw If he had made any
definite financial arrangements with his
counsel He said that he had made definite
arrangements with some OF them, but had
not felt 1t was necessary to do so with his
personal friends among the attorneys
asked him If he had advised with his coun-
sci on all points of the trial. He said he
had not done so at first, but the trial
proceeded he made more and more sue-
gestions, some of which were acted upon
and some not. Taken altogether, his talk
was intelligent, his answers responsive
ana lac showed a clear grasp of the entire
situation
THE grasp of man who is now sane?"
suggested District Attorney Jerome.
Il have already stated, Mr. Jerome that
! was unable to discover anything upon
which to base an opinion that he is not
sane. 1t would require longer time than
| have had for me to become entirely con-
WINGED that Mr.. Thaw has completely re-
covered"
Speaking of his advice to counsel" said
Mr.. Jerome. are you aware of the fact
that this defendant once studied law?'
Yes, he told me he had taken up the
study OF law at Harvard"
Attorney Hartridge tried to draw a more
definite answer from Dr. Wagner as to
Thaws present condition. but he replied
Il have not enough evidence before me to
state absolutely. beyond all question as a
scientific man, that he has entirely recoy-
cred
But as a scientific man you have not
discovered anything during the more than
two months of this trial to enable you to
say he is at present insane have your
No sir | have not
Attorneys Barred.
Mr. Hartridge then stated that DR. White