Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24
BELIEVES PRISONER INSANE
Result of Talk With Two Pittsburg
Alienists.
ANXIOUS FOR THEIR TESTIMONY
Defendants Mother and Other Mem
bers of Family Said to Favor
District Attorneys Plan. -

NEW YORK. February 23.-Counsel for
Harry X Thaw spent a good part of today
denying the usual crop of recess runners
which sprung up during every weekend
adjournment of the trial. The attorneys
were particularly anxious to have 1t I'M
derstood that they will fight any attempt
on the part of District Attorney Jerome
to halt the trial and have a commission in
lunacy appointed to inquire into and re-
port as to Thaw's present mental condition
Despite this. however, the belief grows
that Mr.. Jerome is continually pointing his
efforts in that direction. He perhaps may
have been influenced by this idea in max
ing his cross examination of Evelyn Thaw
perhaps unnecessarily cruel when he was
dwelling upon her Intimate relations with
Stanford White. He hoped that the at
torneys for the defense might profit by
this first show of severity and agree to the
appointment of a commission.
M. Jerome's Tactics.
When they failed to do this after the
first session last Thursday Mr.. Jerome
Unanswered in another direction. He him.
self declaring openly that he had no taste
for the ordeal for which he was subjecting
the frail young woman, wanted to have
her testimony stopped long enough to put
upon the stand Drs. Deemar and Bingaman.
physicians to both branches of the prison.
er's famiIy-the former to the -Copleys.
Mrs. Thaw's parents, and the latter to the
Thaws
1t is now said that Mr.. Jerome's idea
was to build from the testimony of these
two physicians the groundwork for his ap
plication for lunacy commission The
defense objected strenuously to the physi-
,.ia "a. ba ssta nd a time deSDitp
the fact that they We're summoned from
Pittsburg in behalf of the defendant. Mr..
Jerome was so insistent that Drs. Deemar
and Bingaman should be called that JUS
tice Fitzgerald was led to inquire:
Are they your witnesses Mr.. District
Attorney, or were they summoned by the
defense?''
Mr.. Jerome replied that their testimony
was of such vital Importance to the case
that they might be his witnesses II the
defendants counsel were not willing to
have them go upon the stand.
Some days ago Mr.. Jerome was given
permission to examine the two physicians
in his office, the idea being that their testi-
mony might be taken in the form OF depo-
stions. Evidently something occurred dur
ing the examination to cause the defense
to take new view OF the matter. The dis
trict attorney in insisting that the doctors
be heard declared that il was necessary
for them to take the stand, as the introduc-
ton of dispositions was not possible with
out the consent of the other side 6.
Steps to Hold Witnesses.
In his anxiety to introduce the testimony
of the physicians last Thursday the prose-
cutor went to the extent of declaring that
he had reason to believe that they were
about TO depart from the jurisdiction of the
court. lie further declared that under de-
csion of the New York circuit court of APP
peais it was impossible to extradite wit
nesses from another state even though they
had left this jurisdiction while under SUBJ
poena. Mr. Jerome, all the while had the
personal assurance of both Drs. Deemar
and Bingaman that they would return at
any time. and he had full confidence In
them. as he indicated later in the day when
his stand threatened to cause the court to
sit on Washington's birthday and today.
1t is held that Mr.. Jerome's anxiety to
have the doctors testify at the earliest pos
sible moment san have but one meaning
that their evidence has to do with the de-
PENDANTS state of mind. shown through
hereditary taints in both branches of his
family. Earlier in the trial, before Mr.. Jer-
he was opposed to and blocked most of
their testimony. Now he Is more than anx-
ious to get ii upon the records.
Anxious to End rial.
1t is also reported today that Mrs. Will
lam Thaw and other members of the Thaw
family are anxious that the trial, with all
shocking revelations, shall stop. District At
tOrney jerome has just begun to show the
strength of his hand, 1t is said, In testing
the credbility OF young Mrs. Thaw, and
will have much evidence to offer concerning
her relations with the defendant before their
marriage. Everything that ever transpired
between them seems to be known to the
prosecution.
When the trial Is resumed Monday morn
Ing Mr.. Jerome may again try to induce the
defendants attorneys to allow Drs. Deemar
and Bingaman to go upon the stand. If they
follow Thaw's wishes, however, they will
oppose this move. Mr.. Jerome Is not likely
to ask for commission until more medical
testimony is taken. The breaking of Mrs
Thaw's story will have little effect upon
the question of the sanity or insanity of
the defendant, which is the real issue of the
case.
IL commission in lunacy is not appointed
the trial may drag along for four or five