Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-05

OR. WILEY SAYS THAw IS INSANE
pittsburs Alisnist Given Severe
Cross Examination BY Jerome-Dis-
trict Attorney Battles the Expert
With His Knowledge Of Medical and
Scientific subjscts.

Scientific subjscss.
New York. Feb. 5.-The defense OF
Harry Kendall Thaw, charged with the
murder OF Stanford White, began today
when DR.. c. C. Wiley, alienist from
Pittsburg, took the stand and testified
that in his opinion Thaw was insane
the night of the Madison Square roof
garden tragedy He based his opinion
on the mans actions on the roof gar
den and the fact that he had witnessed
an act by Thaw dn a Pittsburg street
car which impressed him with the be-
lief the young man was not sound
mentally. District Attorney Jerome
I put the witness thru the most severe
cross examination ever heard in New
York court room. The prosecution Of
ficer seemed to have every radical au-
thority at his hnger tips. The care
with which he was prepared to meet
Tham.s plea OF insanity was evident in
his every question and at times the
witness hesitated In his answers as il
completely baffled. Wiley was still un-
der dire when the luncheon was order
ed. "Are you nearly thru?" INQUIRED
Justice Fitzgerald Of the district at-
torney. '.No, indeed, your honor re-
piled Jerome, II am just getting inter-
ested ii the subject
ss5 New York, Feb. 5.-Experts on insan-
sttyl and handwriting were witnesses in
the Thaw trial today, The Jurors came
to the trial today muffled to their eyes
ia great coats and furs. . severe snow
81 storm 3 which began early last night
continued today with unabated fury.
Yesterdays order for the exclusion of
all witnesses from the court room re-
mained in force today, with the result
that the second row of four chairs
just back of the prisoners which here
tofore have been reserved for the fam
lily had been turned over to those whose
business gave them the privilege OF
attending the trial. Josiah Thaw was
the only member of defendants family
in court when the morning session be-
gan.
DR.. c. c. Wiley, of Pittsburg, was
the first witness called for the de-
tense. Wiley said he had devoted
much of his life to the study of insan-
ity; had served as an expert in a large
number of cases. In his opinion Thaw
was insane at the time of the crime.
Wiley was asked to state his recol-
lection Of the incident In 1905 in which
Thaw was concerned. Witness said:
II was passenger on a street car
in Pittsburg when Thaw came in.
Without any apparent reason, Thaw
rushed for one of the blinds of win
dow, drew up the blind, slammed it
down again, then drew it up once more.
He had q quarrel with. the conductor.
His manner was defiant, and vague,
and his eyes flashed from right to left.
His actions were irrational
Gleason here formed a hypothetical
question on which he outlined Thaw's
act Of killing White and coupled with
it an Interrogation as to whether the
witness could express an opinion of
such action committed by the person
he saw in the Pittsburg street car.
"My opinion" said Wiley, sis that
the man who committed the act de-
scribed, was suffering from insanity"
On cross-examination Wiley said
that in hereditary insanity, common
blood would flow thru brothers, there
fore the cousin Of the son of an uncle
Of the defendant might follow the same
hereditary influence.
"Are you acquainted as you sit there,
with the form of insanity which the
law in this state defines as an excuse
for crime?" asked Jerome.
Not entirely"
.sThen your opinion on the hypothe-
tical question you have answered, was
given as scientific man, and you had
in mind the various mental aberra-
tions which scientific men meet togeth-
er and discuss ?"
Eyes. and from my own application
of medical knowledge on the sub
ject."
Defendant Makes Notes.
During the testimony of Wiley, Thaw
sat with a paper in his hand, making
notes and consulting constantly with
Peabody. of his counsel. The defend
ant was paler today than yesterday,
but seemed much more composed. Af-
ter Wiley said that he was an author
ity. he was asked if he was willing to
go on record before the world in this
case as a scientific man. after merely
witnessing Thaw's action on the street
car in Pittsburg, and from the descrip-
ton OF the killing of White, as saying
Thaw was insane. Wiley replied with
decision, Yes" Asked by Gleason if.
in his opinion, the defendant at the
time of the deed. knew 1t was wrong.
witness replied Yes" and started an
explanation, which was quickly stop
ped by Jerome and Gleason, the former
Ahiecting to the explanation, and the