Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-04-06
BY UNANIMOUS VOTE
Lunacy Commission Decides That
Harry K. Thaw Is Sane.
JEROME AGAIN CAUSES DELAY
Asks 10 See Complete Minutes Of the
Commission and When His Request
Is Denied He Secures Until Monday
to Appeal From Decision.

New York, April b.-The lunacy
commission appointed to pass on the
present mental condition of Harry *.
Thaw by unanimous vote decided that
he is at present sane; that he fully
understands the nature of the charges
against him and that he is fully able
to confer with his attorneys and di-
rect his defense, After the report was
submitted to Justice Fitzgerald Dis.
trict Attorney Jerome demanded to
see the complete minutes &C the com
mission, especially the record Of the
secret session when counsel was
barred. His request was overruled
and an adjournment taken until Mon.
day. In the meantime Mr.. Jerome ID
expected to appeal from the decision
of Justice Fitzgerald. 4
The finding of the lunacy commits
sion was couched In the language OF
the order by Justice Fitzgerald order
ing the inquiry. The commissioners
declared it to be their unanimous be-
lief that '.the defendant, Harry X.
Thaw, is capable of rightly under
standing his own position, of appre-
ciating the nature of the charges
against him and of nationally confer
ring with his counsel at the time OF
this examination" The concluding
paragraphs of the report are as fol
lows:
After careful examination Of the
defendant personally and of all the
evidence We find the following facts:
Thaw's Conduct Rational.
I'm the frequent and in some cases
daily intercourse had by the defend.
ant with the Tombs physicians, chap
lains, keepers, other attendants and
tke probation officers these persona
failed 70 discover anything Irrational
In his conduct or speech.
'The defendant has taken an active
part In the conduct of the trial, has
made n&merous suggestions orally In
court and by letter as to the selection
OF jurors and the examination. Of wit
assses. Many OF these suggestions
were deensed valuable and were adopt
ID by his counsel and examinationa OF
the letters referred to shows that gem
orally the suggestions containedy j in
chem were material, sensible and rap-
pareMsty the product OF q sane mind.
WAiae the testimony OF numerous ex-
Perts called by the district attorney
and the As1sndant's counsel Ia irrecoa-
ciaaAle that given by certain experts
who personally examined the defend.
amt duriAg the trial and since the ap-
pointmanE OF the commission and who
OF all the alienists examined had
greatest opportunity OF observing dis
closed the fact that mo- Indication OF
insanity at the present time could be
found i'm the speech, conduct or ply
sacal condition of the defendant.
THE direct oral and physical ex-
amiGstaonI of the defendant by the
commissioners themselves disclosed
NO insanity in the defendant at the
present time. Upon all OF the facts it
is our opinion that at the time of our
examination the said Harry X. Thaw
was and is sane and was not and lie
mot liz a state of idiocy, imbeciiity,
luuaey or insanity SO as to be incapa-
bile OF rightly understanding his own
condition, the nature of the charges
agaaast him and of conducting his de
tense in a rational manner