The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-04-09

New York. April 4.-The finding
of the Thaw Iunacy commission was
couched in the language of the order
by Justice Fitzgerald ordering the
inquiry. The commissioners declared
it to be their unanimous belief that
the defendant Harry r. ThaW, is
capable of rightfulIy understanding
his own position, of approaching the
nature Of the charges against him
and Of nationally comforting with
his counsel at the time of this ex-
animation"
The report of the commission in full
is as follows:
We, the undersigned, appointed by
THIS court by orders dated March 26,
-, and March 81, 1907, a commits
siOn to examine into the mental con-
ditIon OF the nature of the charges
port to the court with all conven-
lent speed the facts and their opin-
ion as to whether at the time of such
examination Harry K. Thaw was in
SUCH state of idiocy, imbecility, lu-
macy or insanity SO as to be incapable
of rightly understanding his own con-
aition on the nature of the charges
against him n of conducting his
defense in a rational manner 40 re-
spectfully report:
That before commencing our ex-
animation we took the path pre-
soribed by the statutes.
GGUI,o4 fLo 1o-.. $500.
lied by the selection of David Nc
Cfure us Chairman; William H.
Penny as clerk and Bartholomew
NoynaR as s~tenographer.
THAT we were attended by the
Hensrable District Attorney Jerome,
district attorney for the county of
New York, and counsel for the defen-
dant took part in the proceedings.
The defendant attended in person all
hearings and was orally n physi-
caIly examined.
THAT we examined a large number
Of witnesses furnished by the district
attorney, the counsel for the defen-
dant and called by the commission.
Among them were prison physicians,
cfldI1kdifLS- pI Opdl0 CouAl - IN
IFS. guards in charge Of the defen-
daat, two of the defendants counsel
and fifteen physicians. twelve of whom
wece alienists. We AVE received in
evidence many documents and papers
Including written communications
frsm the defendant to his counsel.
AFTER careful examination of the
SoCo7aSarf norSnnalIu and nf all the
evidence we find the following:
Gin the frequent and in some cases
daily, during the several months last
past, intercourse had by the defendant
wik1 the Tombs physicians. chaplains,
keepers, other attendants and the pro-
baton officer, these persons failed to
discover anything irrational in his con-
duct or speech.
The defendant has taken an active
part in the conduct of the trial; has
made numerous suggestions orally in
court and by letter as to the selection
sf jurors and the examination of wit
aesses. Many of these suggestions
were deemed valuable and were
adopted bv his counsel and examlna-
items of the letters referred to shows
shows that generally the suggestions
contained in them were material,
sensible n apparently the product
Of a sane mind. While the testimony
Of numerous experts called were ire
concilable. that given by certain ex-
perts who personally examined the de-
PENDANT during the trial and since the
of the commission and
who of all the alienists examined had
the fairest opportunity of observation
disclosed the fact that no indications
Of insanity at the present time could
be found in the speech. conduct or
physical conditions of the defendant.
1.-THE direct oral and physical ex-
animation of the defendant by the
commissioners, themselves disclosed
no insanity in the defendant at the
nresent time. Upon all of h facts
il is our opinion that at the time OF
orr examination the said Harry K.
Yhaw was and is sane and was not
and is not in a state Of idiocy, i'm
becility. lunacy or insanity so as to
be incapable Of rightly understanding
his own condition, the nature of the
charges against him and of continuing
his defense in a. rational manner.
""The minutes of the proceedings
had before us and the documents
received in evidence are herewith SUBJ
mitted.
dated at New York, n. Y, this
fourth day of April, 1907.