Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-10
.THAW TRIAL
Al FINAL STAGES
READY TO WIND UP AFTER RE-
PORT ON LUNACY.
COMMISSIONS WORK DONE
Defendant Again Subjected to Exami-
nation by Lunacy Board in the
Absence Of All Attorneys-Thaw
and His Lawyers Express the Ut
most Confidence.

New York, April 4.-Today brings
another critical stage in the Thaw
case. when Thaw will either be Of
ficiaily proclaimed insane and or
dered sent away to the state asylum,
or his trial will be resumed before
Justice Fitzgerald upon the finding of
the lunacy commission that the de-
PENDANT is at this time capable of
rightly understanding his own posi-
ton. of approaching the nature of
the charges against him ard of ration
ally advising with his counsel. The
commission completed its work last
night and will be ready to report to
Justice Fitzgerald this morning.
Thaw underwent a private mental
ana physical examination for more
than two hours yesterday Afternoon. In
this last crucial test he was entirely
alone before the commission, even
the dlstric attorney and members Of
his own counsel being barred. When
the three m 9mbers of the commission
had completed their final examina
ton, they shook hands with Thaw in
most cordial manner. He went
back 20 lis cell in the Tombs with a
light heart and declared later to his
counsel that he felt the commission
would surely declare him sane. His
attorneys shared their clients optim-
istic view of the situation. Jerome
would not commit himself in any way
Thaw's counsel declared they were
ready to proceed with the case today
and believed that Delmas might begin
his summing up address before noon.
In that event, they said, Jerome
would address the jury Friday and
the verdict might be expected before
the weeks end.
Friend on the Commission.
When the lunacy commission re-
sumed its session yesterday Thaw was
nervous and i'll at ease. He appeared
displeased at not seeing any of his
relatives in the court room.
The sensation of the morning ses.
sion came when DR.. Putzel, the med
ical member of the board, uninten-
tionally indicated, by a question he
asked of the witness, that he did not
think Thaw nearly so insane as the
state mas painted him.
DR.. Allan Rose .Diefendorf of the
prosecuting's staff of alienists was
early in court and read the exhibits
presented by the defense by which
they hope to prove Thaw's sanity.
The prosecutor claims that he has
found ample evidence in the briefs,
as they are called, of Thaw's IN
soundness and hopes to turn the evil
dence into good material for the state,
The defense brought forth two of
their experts who have not appeared
before the commission. They are
DR.. Charles G. Wagner of the Bing-
hamton, n v, insane asylum, and DR..
William White, superintendent of the
federal asylum for the insane at
Washington.
The three experts read the Thaw
briefs before going on the stand. DR..
Dfefendorf said he had watched
Thaw during the time. he was in
court and had examined the exhibits,
among which was Thaw's statement
to the press which was suppressed
until given out by DR.. Hamilton
Q-Do you believe the defendant is
incapable of conducting his defense in
q rafioDaI rOan0pr9
Al think he is.