The Washington times., 1907-02-28

NEW YORK. Feb. 2s.-rodav's
proceedings Of the Thaw trial devel-
oped cross between an insanity
inquest and a farce. DR.. Britton D.
Evans. the defense's insanity ex-
pert, was tho only witness, being
recalled for cross-examination by
the State. The enmity existing be-
tween the doctor and the prosecutor
is personal, and neither makes any
attempt to conceal his feelings. To-
day each strove 10 his utmost to be-
little and ridicuIe the other. yet so
skjllful was each that the court was
Powerless TO stop the obvious bait
ing.
Defense Gets the Honors.
The morning session closed ,vith
the case just where it had begun. In
somuch as jerome had failed 10
break down the testimony of the
expert in any of its essentialities,
the honors Of the session went TO
the defense.
Buried in a mass Of technicalities.
befuddling questions, and evasive
answers was the line of Jerome's
endeavor, an attempt to break down
the alienist's opinion expressed in
direct examination and based on a
Hypothetical question, that Thaw
was insane At the time he shot
White.
Thaw's Letters the Storm Center.
The storm center of the whirIwind
Of words was the batch of letters
written by Thaw to Attorney Long
fellow and TO Evelyn Thaw, and
which DR.. Evans admitted had in
fuenced him in arriving at the con-
clusion that Thaw was insane.
The net result of the district at
torney's half days endeavor was an
admission by DR.. Evans that the
letters IN themselves were not suf-
fcient TO warrant him in thinking
Thaw insane.
Dr.. Evans Ready for Fray.
DR.. Evans was called as the first
witness. He came in with bright,
smiling face, showing no signs of
lost sleep reading the exhibits.
When he took the witness stand
Jerome asked if he had brought the
book on Physiology of the Mind
which he was asked to bring.
The expert said he had brought
it, but left II in his overeoat pocket
in the anteroom. He was excused
while he got it.
The alienist had several notebooks
and papers in addition to the speci-
fed volume.
Jerome and I)r. Evans locked horns al
most as soon & : the examination began
jerome tried 10 force DR.. Evans to give
yes or no answers tO'certain- Ques-
lions and this the witness declined to do
Again and again the same questions
were repeated and DR.. Evans parried
them with evasive answers.
Examination of d.. Evans.
DR.. Evans was questioned as follows.
Q.-HSve you examined the will and
codicn?
Al have as well as I could. I have
also read the letters.
Q--You had the Photographic comics
when ynU went homer
A.-Nes-
Q.-Di1 you examine each one Of those
photOsr ,phic copies from beginning 10
end2
A-Yes. I did so ofter having -o,a
the typewriter copies
Q--Do you know when these photo
graphic copies were made?
A-NO
Q--Have you, since last night, read
the codicil and viii?
Al have done the best / could.
have not given them the attention I
would like. because didn't have time.
Q.-Haye you carefully read the VIII
Al have done the best I could.
Q--That doesn't answer my question
have YOU read every word2
A-Yes
ODD YOU know 10 which the photo
graphic copies are addressed
Al believe I do I had to assume
a great deal or else remain in Ignorance
OF the 2ddressee, because L could get no
positive evidence from some OF the pho
LOgraphlc copies.
Read the question" said Jerome.
Refuses to Answer Ofhand.
I understand the ques,-,1.' said Dr..
Evans You want me TO answer yes.
or no to a complex question. which I
cannot - in Justice TO myself. and