Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-08
THAW insane WHEN
HE KILLED White
PirrsBURG PHYSICIAN TEsTlFlEs
SHOOTING WAS ACT OF A
MADMAN.
WITNESS SEVERELY
GRlLLED BY JEROME

GRlLLED BY JEROME
District Attorney Fires Question After
Question at Expert Testing His
Knowledge of Medicine-Defend-
ants Lawyers Worried.
New York, Feb 6.-The defense of
Harry Kendall Thaw, charged with
the murder of Stanford White, began
Tuesday when DIR. c. G. Wiley, an
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 this opinion on the mans
actions on the roof garden and the
fact that he had witnessed an act
by Thaw in a Pittsburg street car
which impressed him with the belief
that the young man was not of sound
mentality.
District Attorney Jerome put the
witness through the most severe
cross-examination ever heard in a
New York court room. The prescott
ing officer seemed to have every med
ical authority at his finger tips. The
care with which he had prepared to
meet Thaw's plea of insanity was evil
dent in his every question and at
times the witness hesitated in his an
swers as if completely baffled.
DIR. Wiley was still under fire when
luncheon was ordered.
Are you nearly through" inquired
Justice Fitzgerald of the district at
torney.
mo, indeed, your honor" replied
Mr.. Jerome, 81 am just getting inter-
ested in the subject"
Familiar with Insanity Tests.
Toward the end of the morning ses-
sion Mr.. Jerome carried the witness
through the various tests of alienists
to discern brain trouble such as re-
hexes. etc., the witness nodding his
assent and asserting that he knew
them all including the "Romberg
test"
Describe the Romber test" COM
manded Mr.. Jerome.
The witness said it was test of
the brain.
ooh, but that is not an explanation
of the Romberg system. Do you know
it-have you ever heard of it?" said
the district attorney, testify.
Thinking for moment the witness
replied: II do not exactly know it,"
adding that he may have used it
that he might know the test-but not
under the name of the Romberg test.
How many people have you exam
ined as an expert as to their insan-
ity?"
"Oh, about 500; don't know"
did you use the Romberg test on
any of these?"
Il don't exactly know what the
Romberg test is. cannot say
Mr.. Jerome displayed the thorough
ness with which he has studied med
ical authorities to fit himself for the
Thaw case by leading the witness
through chain of questions dealing
with pathology, which at times seemed
to thoroughly battle the witness, who
hesitated time and again and evadeG
direct answers.
Wiley Resumes Stand.
DR.. Wiley resumed the stand as
soon as the afternoon session was
convened.
who have you talked to during
the recess?" was the first question
Mr.. Jerome hurled at the witness.
DR.. Wiley seemed taken aback.
With Mr.. Gleason" he said
who else?"
Several other gentlemen, 1 dom
know who they were."
Did you talk about this case?"
Yes. One of the gentlemen told
me the Romberg test was a test fol
locomotor ataxia"
"They told you that?"
YES"
THAT the Romberg test is test fol-
locomotor ataxia?"
YES"
"And you don't know who it was
who told you that?"
He was a physician"
what was his name?"
II don't know"
what is your best recollection O.
the name?"
IT have not any"
.Was it DR.. Hammond"
DR.. Hammond, one of the Thav
aHenists was asked to stand up.
No." the witness replied.
Mr.. Jerome further continued the
tactics of the morning session, putting
the witness through rigid test as tt
his medical knowledge.
Wife Visits Defendant.
Harry Thaw came back from the
Tombs for the afternoon session with
q spring to his step. He had appeared
depressed all the morning and vel
coined the recess. His wife, who
came to the judges chamber for the
forenoon session visited the prisoner
during the luncheon hour. She was &C
companied by May Mackenzie. Bott
seemed disappointed that there hat
been no relaxation in the rule bar
ring all witnesses from the court
room.
There was just the suggestion Of {
smile on Harry Thaw's face at some
OF the questions propounded to DR.
Wiley by Mr.. Jerome. The jury
held the expert always in focus.
Mr.. Jerome proceeded: Doctor
does the cardiac nerve connact direct