The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-26


Harry K Thaw spent good part Of
today denying the usual crop of re-
cess rumors which sprung up during
every weekend adjournment Of the
tfiai. The attorneys were particularly
anxious to have it understood that
they will fight any attempt on the
part OF District Attorney Jerome to
halt tAe trial and have a commission in
luRacy appointed to inquire into and
report as to Thaw's mental condition.
Despite this, however, the belief
grows that Mr. Jerome is continually
pointing his efforts in that direction.
He may have been Influenced by this
idea in. making his cross examination
Of Evelyn Thaw perhaps unnecessarily
cruel when he was dwelling upon her
intimate relations with Stanford White
He hoped that the attorneys for the Ge-
fense might profit by this first show Of
severity and agree to the appointment
OF Q commission. When they faned
Thursday Mr. JcTCGlc maneuvred in
another direction. lie himself declar-
ing openly that he had no taste for
the ordeal for which he was SubJectlng
the fGail young woman, wanted to have
her testimony stopped long enough to
put upon the stand Doctors Deenar
and Bingham, physicians to both
branches Of the prisoners family-the
former to the Copeleys, Mrs. Thaw
parents, and the latter to the Tha"S
1t Is said that Mr.. JerOme's idea was
to ksild from the testimony OF thes-
TIVE physicians the ground work for his
apptication for a lunacy commission
The defense objected strenuously tt
the physicians taking the stand a.
taafs time, despite the fact that the,
we're summoned from Pittsburg In be
MeR of the defendant. Mr.. Jerome wa
so fnsistent that Doctors Deemar aut
Bingham should be called that Just'c'
FHzgerald was led to inquire:
"Are they your witnesses, Mr.. Dis
triot Attorney, or were they summo1e'
by the defense?"
AR. Jerome replied that their tcstl
1nony was Of such vital Importance I
the case that they might be his wit
nesses if the defendants counsel wer
not willing to have them go upon Tn
stand.
Some DAYS ago Mr.. Jerome was give
permission to examine the two pn1
sfcians In his office, the idea being tha
their testimony might be taken IN n
form of dispositions. Evidently som
thing occurred during the examlnatlC
to cause the defense to take a new vie
of the matter. The district attorney
Insisting that the doctors being hear
declared it was necessary for them
take the stand, as the introduction
danositiOns was not possible witEo
HE consent of the other side. In b
anxiety to introduce the testimony
the physicians last Thursday the pro
ecu+iOn went to the extent or deciarN
that he had reason to believe til
thev were about to depart from [
Jurisdiction of the court. He 1urto
declared that under a decision OF
New York circuit court of aDpealS
was impossible to extradite witness
from another state. even though Ut
had left this jurisdiction while unt
subpoena. Mr.. Jerome all the "h
had the personal assuranve OF ot
Doctors Deemar and Bingham that tf
would return any time and he had
confidence in them as he indicated Ia
in the day when his stand threater
to cause the court to sit on Wash''
aon's birthday and today. 1t held Il
Mr.. Jerome's anxiety to have the d
tors testify at the earliest posi-
moment can have but one meanln
hat their evidence has to do with
defendants state of mind as she
through hereditary taints in both
Che branches of his family. Ear
En the trial before Jerome had exi
fned the witnesses in person he
opposed to and blocked most OF IL