Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-01
EVANS ANALYZ[S
HlN| s LETTERS
Alienist Declares the Epistles
Indicate a "state of Mental
Unsteadiness''
JEROME FAILS TO TRAP WITNESS
Evan. Would Not E,s cornered and
Evaded Cross Questions With That
Object by reelarins He Did Not
Jerome to Introduce Second
Packet Of II aw Letters.

sS eNu0Nt---voEOH1o 70 10 U'A.SsASsS = 2SS'ss.'S
Packet Of Tt aw Letters.
New York, March District Attor-
ney Jerome's intention OF applying for
+ commission in lunacy to examine
Harry K Tha'v seemed to be definitely
{estabIished toiay during the continu-
ance of his cross examination OF Dr..
Evans. Evan; stated that he believed
Y Thaw had been suffering from adoie-
scent insanity in 1903, and at the time
of his marriai,e in 1905. and that when
he killed White, June %, 1906, ne was
the victim Of an acute recurrent at
tack Of the same mental ms lady. Ev-
ans was more definite in his answers
J. today. and was induced to make these
statements with positiveness. In ad-
dition to these explosions" he SAID
that there were indications OF mental
instability at other times
Jerome, during the examination, con-
stantly referred, to the subject OF par
anoia. but was unable to secure from
the witness any admission that would
tend to show Thaw paranoiac. BY
this line Of questioning it seems prob prob.
able that the prosecution will attempt
Ito show that instead Of being afflicted
with insanity Of adolescence, Thaw Is
actually q paranoiac. Evans would not
classify adolescent insanity as chronic
in Thaw's case, and said he had known
cases Of this form Of mental unsound-s
ness to clear up over night.
New York. March 14--When the Thaw
trial opened this morning. District At
torney Jerome announced that there
had been received a second packet of
letters from ]. D. Lyon, the Pittsburg
banker, who until last November had
custody OF Thaw's will. The letters
received today were written to Lyon
by Thaw while in the Tombs, and all
bear dates subsequent to June 20 last.
jerome is very anxious to have the LETT
tars and they were sent on by consent
OF Thaw's attorneys.
DR.. Britton D. Evans was recalled,
and Jerome continued his cross-ex-
animation Of the alienist.
"Taking all the letters you have read,
and in 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?" Jer-
ONE asked.
Delmas objected on the ground that
the question assumed the witness had
knowledge that was not in evidence.
Jerome withdrew the question and
asked witness if he had any knowledge
Of facts that have not been testified to-
An. argument was the result, Jerome
claiming the only point in the case was
whether or not the defendant was in
sane when the homicide was committed
and he is anxious to bring out all the
facts. Evans was allowed to answer.
He said that as far as he could recall
he had told all of Importance he could
remember of what he had heard and
seen on the first three visits to Thaw
In the Tombs.
Taking everything you have testi-
fed to into consideration, what, in
your opinion. was the mental condition
of defendant when he wrote those let
ters ?'
"He was in state Of mental un-
steadiness.'
Jerome handed witness a copy of the
letter Thaw wrote to Anthony Com
stock complaining that "dens of vice.
were maintained by White and "other
rich scoundrels" for the ruin of young
girls. and asked if anything in the
letter suggested the mental state of the
writer.
.It shows" said Evans. that his
mind seemed to be running upon young
women and their supposed wrongs. and
indicates delusive state of the writ
er's mind"
Evans attention was called to
Thawss will and codicil and he stated
that the ideas and delusions indicated
in these documents were different from
the ones indicated in the letters.
Are not the ideas or delusions in
the will and codicil more concentrated
than in the letters?" asked jerome.
Yes"
The will and codicil We're written
some years after the letters. and
Evans answer would indicate that in
his opinion Thaw's mental disease
changed in form and became more SER
ious.
Jerome took up the letters. nine in
number, and began asking the witness
If. in his opinion, considering all other
things in the case. the writer was in-
sane when the letters were written.
Yesterday Evans was obliged to state
his opinion on each letter, excluding
everything else.
-Thls letter shows IN unsteady state