Evening journal., 1907-02-15
Not Unlikely That Jerome
Win Ask For a LunaCy
Commission
PRI- ON1R'S KEEPER
DEAD FROM PNEUMONIA

By Our Own Wire. Publishers Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. 15--It is to-day
taken for granted that unless Juror
Bolton has an actual physical break
down there win be no mis-trlal in the
Thaw case. Mrs. Bottoms funeral has
been fixed for tomorrow afternoon. 1t
is believed that by Monday, Mr.. Boil
ton will be At to continue ms duty to
the State.
Without any mis-trial. however, the
proceedings are likely to be cut short.
Jerome's experts are inclining more
and more to the belief that Thaw is
really insane. Jerome may, therefore,
decide to demand commission in
lunacy early next week. Should the
commission formally declare Thaw in
sane he VIII he sent to Aiattewan with
out further ado.
All along Thaw has covered between
the twin fear of Sing Sing and Mat
feawan. and the strict and perhaps
life-long discipline under which the
crimnially insane are placed.
Insanity the Only Salvation.
Thaw's attorneys had to recognize
that an insanity plea was the only
thing which could save Thaw IS life.
In introducing this plea, however, they
have endeavored to leave a gap in the
testimony by which the jury, while
being convinced that Thaw was in
sane when he killed White would have
no justification in declaring that Thaw
is insane now. 1t has been noticed
that the experts for the defense have
not examined Thaw since December.
They have sworn that he was mad in
August and September and better
though still mad in December. The
intimation was that Thaw had inn
proved and might now be we'll. But
they could not testify that he was we'll,
because they had not seen him.
This plan OF campaign required the
greatest possible hnesse. It had al
ready begun to look as If the jury
would never send Thaw to the chair
Delmas was leaving them without suf-
fcient evidence to sen him to Mat
tewan.
Jerome Plans . Balk.
Jerome's reported intention to sum-
mon a lunacy commission is TO ballS
this plan If he takes this plan it
VIII be on the theory that if Thaw
was insane enough last summer to
escape the chair. he is insane enough
now to go to Matteawan.
This move by Jerome would put
Thaw's defenders in a very critical
position. They have been bringing in
evidence that Thaw was a paranoiac
both by inheritance and development
and that the disease last summer has
reached a point where it amounted to
homicidal mania Dr. Evans has testi-
fed that Thaw has am abnormal head
an abnormal heart and other attributes
of a crazy person. They have told
about Thaw insanity and have read
lot of incoherent love letters to prove
unsoundness of mind. They have a
win ready to introduce to further
clinch the proof OF dementia.
Now should a commission in lunacy
take this same evidence and decide on
the strength of it that Thaw is now
insane, no power on earth could keep
him out Of Matteawan. And while
Thaw may be better than he was last
summer, confinement with crazy peo-
pie might be expected to aggravate his
complaint 50 that no board of examin-
alton would be able. at a later date,
TO pronounce him cured. The outcome
of such a situation would mean life
Imprisonment.
Thaw breads life imprisonment more
than he does the electric chair and he
is demanding from his attorneys that
they save him from such a. fate.
Thaws Keeper Dead Of Pneumonia.
Pneumonia. the cause Of the death OF