The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-01
THAW INSANE.
DIR. Evans Gives Affirmative
Answer to Question
Regarding Prisoners State the
hight of the Shooting.
ARE KEPT GUESSING.
Counsel and Friends Of Thaw
Are in Doubt
Regarding Future Action of the
District Attorney.
THE TRIAL MAY END
At Any Time by Jerome Asking
for a Commission
To Determine Whether or Not
Defendant Is Insane.
Regarding Future Action of the
District Attorney.
THE TRIAL MAY END
At Any Time by Jerome Asking
for a mission
To Determine Whether or Not
Defendant Is Insane.


for commission in Iunacy to examine
Harry K. Thaw seemed to be definite
ly established today during the con-
tinuance of his cross-examination of
DR.. r. D. Evans. the principal medi-
cal expert for the defense. DIR. Evans
stated that he believed Thaw to have
been suffering from adolescent insan-
ity in 1903 and at the time of his mar
riage, April 4. 1905, and that when he
killed Stanford White, June 25, 1906,
he was the victim of an acute and re-
current attack of the same mental
nalady. DR.. Evans was more definite
in his answers today and was induced
to make these statements with posi-
tiveness.
In addition to the explosions" he
said there were indications of mental
insta bility at other times.
Mr. Jerome, during his examination.
constantly referred to the subject of
paranoia but was unable to secure
from the witness any admission that
would tend to show Thaw a paranoiac
By this line of questioning it seems
probable that the prosecution will at
tempt to show that instead of being
atfilcted with insanity of adolescence,
Thaw IS actually a paranoiac
DIR. Evans would not classify adoles-
cent insanity as chronic in Thaw's
case and said he had known cases of
clear up over night.
More Letters Arrive.
New York. March 1-When the
Thaw trial opened this morning Dis
trict Attorney Jerome announced that
there had been received a second
packet of letters from J. d. J.yon. the
Pittsburg banker. who until November
last, had custody of Thaw's will The
letters received today were written to
Mr. Lyon by Thaw while in the Tombs
and all bear dates subsequent to June
% last. 49,
Mr.. Lyon first sent on only letters
written prior to the roof garden
Mr.. Jerome was very anxious to
nave the later letters and they were
sent on by consent of Thaw's attor-
neys- The letters are held subject to
the courts orders.
Dr. Britton D. Evans was recalled
as soon as the letters from Pittsburg
had been examined by counsel, and
Mr. Jerome continued his cross ex-I
animation of the aIienist
Taking all the letters you have
read in the light of all you know about
the case, what is your opinion as to
the mental condition of this defendant
at the time he wrote these letters %
was Mr.. Jerome's first question.
Mr.. Delmas promptly objected on
the ground that the question assumed
that the witness had knowledge that
was not in evidence.
Mr.. Jerome withdrew the question
and asked the witness if he had any
knowledge of facts that have not been
testified to.
What Jerome Is After.
An argument was the result. Mr.
Jerome claiming that the only point in
the case was whether the defendant
was insane when the homicide was
to bring out all the facts.
Dr. Evans was allowed to answer
and said that SO far as he could recall
he had told all of importance that he
could remember of what he had heard
and seen on the first three visits to
Thaw in the Tombs.
Taking everything that you have
testified to into consideration, what in
your opinion was the mental condition
of the defendant when he wrote those
letters?" asked Jerome.
He was in a state of mental in
stability
DO you mean he was insane?"
Not necessarily. He was in a state
of mental unsteadiness.
Mr.. Jerome handed the witness a !
copy of the letter Thaw wrote to An
thony Comstock, complaining that
"dens of vice. were maintained bv |
Stanford White, and other rich scoun- |
drels for the ruin of young girls.
After DIR. Evans had examined the |
paper some 20 minutes Jerome asked
him if anything in the letter suggest
ed the mental state of the writer.
''It shows" said the expert, that |
young women and their supposed |
wrongs"
Anything else?'
ut indicates a delusive state in the
writer's mind
Were the delusions of an exalted |
or depressed nature?"
Il don't think there is enough in |
the letter for anybody to say as to /
that
The VIII and Co6iiciI.
DR.. Evans attention was called to
Thaw's will and codicil and he stated |
that the ideas and delusions indicated |
in those documents were different
from those Indicated in the letters
Are not the ideas or delusions
shown in the will and codicil nore
concentrated than in the letters ?"
asked Mr. Jerome.
Yes, that is my opinion" was the
answer.
The will and codicil were written
some years after the letters and DR..
Evans answer would indicate that in
his opinion Thaw's mental disease
changed in form and became more
serious.
Mr.. Jerome then took UP the let
ters. nine in number. and began ask