The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-12
Justice Fitzgerald Refuses to
Adjourn the Case.
Rest of the City Observes Birth
day of Lincoln.
DIR. EVANS ON STAND.
Testifies That Thaw Is Victim Of
Explosive Insanity.
Tells of Visit to Young Man I'm
the TOmbS.
is NEARING THE END.
Delmas Says He Has Little
More to Offer.
Talk of Putting Abe Hnmmel
OH the Stand.
Testif1es That Thaw Is Victim OF
Explosive Insanity.
Tells Of Visit to Young Man I'm
the TOmbS.
5 NEARING THE END.
Delmas Says He Has Little
More to Offer.
Talk of Putting Abe Hnmmel
OH the Stand.

New York. Feb. 12.-AltEough to-
day is Lincoln's birthday and con-
sequently a legal holiday in this state,
the Thaw trial proceeded at the usual
hour this morning. Justice Fitzgerald
having ordered that owing to the hard
ship 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 walked to his place at
counsel table as he was removing
his ulstercoat and for some moments
after taking his seat. he kept his eyes
on District Attorney Jerome, and ig-
nored his own counsel for the time
being. Mr. Jerome was busy with his
pass and did not notice Thaw's some
what unusual action.
The first witness called by Mr.. Del
mas was DIR. Britton d. Evans, super
intendent of the state insane hospital
at Morris Plains, n. J.. which he said
contains an average of 1900 patients.
DR.. Evans said he had written and
spoken a great deal on the subject of
insanity and had appeared in a ma
jority of the important cases in New
Jersey where mental arrangement or
incapacity had to do with the mattee
under investigation. In several cases,
the witness declared, he had repre-
defense by consent of counsel and un-
der appointment by the court.
The witness first saw Harry Thaw
August 4, 1906, in the Tombs, and in
| all visited him eight times.
DIR. Evans said he was alone on the
visits of August 4 and October. L. At
other times, he was accompanied by
DR.. Wagner. who testified yesterday
DR.. Evans declared he noticed on
his visits to the Tonbs that Thaw suf-
fered from forms of insanity charac-
terized by IAN exaggerated ego,' in
Guiding adolescent insanity, the latter
due to heredity
Explosive Insanity.
DR.. Evans said Thaw also exhibited
symptoms of having recently under
gone an explosive or Illuminating con-
dition of mental unsoundness.
What during these visits did you
observe in the mental condition of Mr..
Thaw?"
"On the first visit on August 4. he
exhibited a peculiar facial expression,
glaring of the eye. restlessness of the
eye. suspicious of his surroundings and
of me, nervous agitation and restless
ness such as comes from a severe
brain storm, common in those who
have recently gone through an ex-
plosive or Illuminating condition os
mental unSoundness. He exhibited
delusions of a personal character. an
exaggerated ego, and along with them
delusions Of a persecutory character.
He thought himself of exaggerated
importance and believed himself per-
secuted by a number of persons"
By an exaggerated ego" DIR. Evans
said he meant "a disproportionate
idea of Importance of self belief that
one is clothed with powers, capacity
and power far above normal. or above
those actually possessed"
These symptoms. he said, were char
acteristic of several mental diseases.
One of the mental diseases indi-
Gated hy Thaw's actions, DR. Evans
declared. is: Adolescent insanity. 1t
is characteristic of the development
period of 1ife-from 10 to 40 years.
The person thus afflicted is known
having psychopathic faint; predIs-
position to mental unsoundness the
result of heredity.
Another form of insanity indicat-
ed said the witness, ais known as
paranoaid or fixed insanity on some
subject. The third is maniacal where
the patient jumps from one idea to
another. These forms and others are
characterized by the exaggerated ego
They are we'll defined forms about
which there can be no difference Of
opinion"
"Is there any such a specific name %
asked Mr.. Delmas, given to that form
of insanity wherein one ina zines him
self omniprescient-th ruler Of the
world ?"
THAT is included in the forms Of
insanity to which 1 have referred"
Characterized BY DeIusions.
Both adolescent insanity and
raranoiad insanity are characterized
by delusions as to self-importance and
exaggerated ego. In adolescent insan-
ity the patient exhibits no marked
symptoms But when the stress
comes''-Dr. Evans took on a de-
clamatory tone of voice-"the man
does not break down as the ordinary
or normal man would. There is a
complete loss of mental balance. an
explosive condition of the brain. the
reason becomes dethroned. the Will
power is lost and the brain is operating
as a ship does in the wind without a
rudder-the balance wheel is gone.
The acts Of such man are not the
acts of a normal man, but show him to
be guided by disease and stress. His
mind has left its moorings and yielded
to diseased conditions.
"On my first visit. I also noticed
that Mr. Thaw suffered from a rapid
flow of words not characteristic of the
normal mind. He showed a condition
of abnormal extreme-a diseased con-
dition of the BRAIN
I'm the disease you describe how do
the conditions differ from the condi-
tions in normal man who speaks rap-
idly2"