The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-03-28
PRESENT STATE OF MIND.
Lunaey Commission VIII Investigate
ThaW's Mental Condition.

INd"S WGnIGt 10 HC!tIJHs
New York, March 28-Harry K.
Thaw may never again face the jury
impaneled more than nine weeks ago
to try him On the charge Of murder
In the first degree. Justice Fitzgerald
unexpectedly named commission IN
lunacy to inquire into the present state
of mind of Stanford Whites slayer,
The decision OF the three disinterestea
men named to conduct the inquiry viii!
guide the further action Of the court
as to ordering Thaw to an asylum for
the .::ssane or directing that the trial
at as been interrupted shall pre-
coed. Justice Fitzgerald announceI
the appointment OF the commissicz
private chambers.
The ThaE lunE,cy commission VII.
be attende by District Attorney Je
rome. The lawyers may direct and
compel the attendance of any witness
they may desire. 1t is probable that
Thaw will be asked first of all to sub
nit to a rigid physical examination.
Having undergone several of these
since his incarceration, he is somewhat
nervous on the subject, but 1t was said
by his counsel that he would do any
thing in his power TO aid the commits
sion with its work, and that he hoped
for an early opinion as to his sanity.
Thaw's lawyers and the defendant
himself were downcast when they were
first made acquainted with Justice
Fitzgerald's decision, but all were man
ifestly pleased when the later an
nouncement as to the personnel of the
commission was made. Mr.. Delmas,
in particular, declared that Justice
Fitzgerald could hardly have selected
more generally satisfactory commits
sion
Messr. Hartridge and O'Re;lly went
with Mrs. Evelyn Thaw to the tomhs,
and there in the hospital ward they
met the prisoner The ward had been
placed at their disposal because of the
crowd in the usual consultation room.
The brothers Of the defendant did not
go to the tombs, but hurried up town
with the news of the commission to
their mother and sisters. who were
waiting in their apartments. Thaw
had OWNED the result of the confer
ence with Justice Fitzgerald, and was
not in the least surprised.
1T Is all right, dearie," he said to
his wife. Il am not afraid of com
mission. | am a sane man now:
Just as sane as the Judge himself, and
am sure that any right-minded com
mission will SO declare me-"
The attorneys quickly withdrew from
the conference and Thaw and his W e
sat for long time together discussil g
what the commission probably would
do. When Hartridge came out he de-
clared
The fortitude of the boy (meanins
fhaW) astonishes me sometimes. and
it certainly did today"
After the conference 1haw sent out
statement in which he said: Every
thing Is perfectly satisfactory to me.
am sure J will be able to satisfy the
commission that | am at the present
tlme sane. What Justice Fitzgera d
does is all right He has always acted
In fair and impartial manner"
The order under which the commits.
sion was appointed says: when the
commissioners have concluded their
examination they must forwith report
the facts to the court with their opin-
Ion thereon. If the commission finds
ment must be suspended until he be-
comes sane and the court, If it deem
his discharge dangerous to the public
peace and safety, must order that he
be in the meantime, committed by the
sheriff to state lunatic asylum, and
upon his becoming sane he be re-deliv-
cred by the superintendent of the In
sane asylum to the sheriff.
When received into the asylum he
must be detained there until he be-
comes sane. Then the superintendent
must give written notice of the fact
to Judge or the supreme court of the
district in which the asylum Is located
The judge must require the sheriff,
without delay. to bring the defendant
from the asvlum and place him In the
proper custody until he Is brought to
trial. JUDGMENT or execution, as the
case may be or be legally discharged >
While the law simply prescribes any
state asylum, it Is generally the custom
to send aid persons charged with crime
to the asylum at Matteawan for the
criminal insane
The cour' directs what compensa.
ton shall be naid to the members of a
lunacy commission.