Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-12
THAW IS INSANE
SAYS AN EXPERT
Or. Evans Declares That There
Can Be No Doubt About
His Condition.
DESCRIBES VISITS TO TOMBS
Defendant Indicated in Many Ways
His Unsoundness of Mind in
His Talk.
JEROME ON THE WAR PATH
Prosecuting Officer and the Witness
Have a Passage at Arms-His
Very Curious Method of Con-
versation.
JEROME ON THE WAR PATH

NEW YORK, February 12-The de-
Tense in the Thaw case continued today
with the introduction of expert testi-
mony as to the condition of the defend
ants mind during the several months fol-
lowing the tragedy of the Madison Square
Roof Garden.
I'VE do this" explained Mr.. Delmas.
Tnaw's leading counsel, "in order that
the jury by means of the wreckage on
the beach may infer that there has been
a storm upon the waters
The witness who occupied the entire
morning session, and whose testimony
had not been concluded when recess was
ordered, was DR.. Britton D. Evans SUI
perintendent of the state hospital for
the insane at Norris Plains, N. j. DR..
Evans declared that when he first Wis
tied Thaw in the Tombs on August 4
there were many indications of the brain
storm or explosive or Illuminating condi-
tion of mental unsoundness through
which he had recently passed.
Manner Changed.
1t now became evident for the first time
In court that the defense is endeavoring to
show TO the jury that while Thaw was in
sane prior to the killing of Stanford White
and at the time and Immediately subse-
auent to the homicide, the alienists who
visited him in the Tombs found that as
their visits progressed his manner changed
from storm and stress" to calm and
quiet
DIR. Evans testimony today bore out this
contention.
The expert at great length described the
various forms of insanity whose symptoms
he discovered at the time of his first visit
to Thaw. but District Attorney Jerome
could not induce Mr. Delmas to put a di-
rect question to DR.. Evans as to his opin-
ion as to the sanity or insanity of the de-
PENDANT on the witness later visits and ex-
aminations
Attitude of Exaltation.
DIR. Evans described Thaws manner in
the Tombs in August last as one Of exalta-
tion-"of exaggerated ego and self-impor-
lance" He declared the defendant at no
time betrayed the slightest apprehension
as TO any great impending personal danger.
The alienist said he had formed an opin-
ion as the result of his eight visits to Thaw.
but he had not been asked to state it I'D
to the time the recess was taken when Mr.
Delmas Indicated that his direct examina-
ton was not nearly concluded
The rule against admitting women to the
court room was strictly adhered to again
today.
Thaw Watches Jerome.
The fact that today was Lincoln's birth
day. and consequently a legal holiday in
this state, had no effect on the Thaw trial.
which went ahead at the usual hour this
morning. Justice Fitzgerald ordered last
week that owing to the hardship on the
jury. which is to remain locked up until the
end of the trial there would be no recess
over the holiday
When Thaw WAS walking To his place at
counsel table aS he was removing his ,,Istar
coat and for some mealsntS after taking
his seat he kept his eyes on District Attor-
ney jerome and ignored his own counsel for
the time being. Mr.. Jerome was busy with
his papers and did not notice 'rhaw.s some
what unusual action.
Dr.. Evans First Witness.
The first witness called by Mr. DeImas
was DI. Br:tton d. Evans superintendent
of the State Insane Hospital at Morris
Plains. n. j. DIR. Evans is a short. thick
. plexlon. He spoke slowly and distinctly.
lie said he was born in 1858 and graduated
from the Baltimore College of Physicians
and Surgeons in 1855. and afterward did
postgraduate work at Johns Hopkins. He
was for four years assistant superintendent
of the Maryland Hospital for the Insane.
and afterward superintendent of the State
Hospital for the Feeble Minded In 1892
he became superintendent of the hospital
at Morris Plains, N. j., where he said
there was average of ! 500 patients.
DE- Evans said he had written and spoken
a great deal on the subject of insan.ty. and
that he had appeared in a majority of the
important cases In New Jersey where men,
tai arrangement or incapacity had to do
with the matter under Investigation In
several cases. the witness declared, he had
represented both the prosecution and the
defense by consent of counsel and under
appointment by the court.
Eight Visits.
The witness first saw Thaw August 4,
1906. in the Tombs and in all visited him
eight times.
DR. Evans said he was alone on the visits
Of August 4 and october 1. At other times