The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-04-02

New York, March 3O.-The plans of
the Thaw lunacy commission to com
piete its work today and to submit a
report to Justice Fitzgerald on Monday
morning as to the present mental con-
dition OF the slayer of Stanford White,
were upset late this afternoon by an
appeal by District Attorney Jerome TO
be allowed to produce more witnesses
before the commission reaches de-
cision. After an all day session, the
commission adjourned until next Tues
day morning, at which time it will
hear experts offered by the district
attorney. Chairman Mcclure served
notice, however, that the witnesses will
be compelled to confine themselves TO
facts and opinions which deal with the
present condition of Thaw and will
not he allowed to go into the past or
future.
Harry Thaw was under direct exam
ination by the commissioners for more
than three hours today and then for
forty-1ive minutes he was under the
fire of District Attorney Jerome on
cross-examination. This crOSs-eXaml-
nation was allowed by the commission
only after a vehement protest from the
prosecuting officer that he had not been
allowed sufficient latitude in the in
quiry.
Enioging his first opportunity CT
questioning the defendant Mr.. Jerome
attempted to go into Thaw's past lille,
but objections to this line Of examina-
tiens by Thaw's counsel were sustained
by the commission, which held the dis
trict attorney to the direct issue before
the lunacy board-whether Thaw is
capable today of understanding the
character of the proceedings against
him and of nationally advising his
cousel.
Thaw's direct and cross-examina-
tions today were held behind closed
doors and the commission took extra
ordinary precautions to have the hear
ing kept secret.
when Thaw's ordeal was ended the
doors were thrown open and it was
announced that the executive sessions
were at an end.
AS soon as the session became public
District Attorney Jerome called DR..
Allan McLane Hamilton to the stand
The commission had summoned DR..
Hamilton at the request of the district
attorney. AS the alienist took the
stand, however Thaws counsel plead
ed the professional privilege in ba or
any testimony to be offered by him.
DR. Hamilton himself asked to be in
structed on this point. Mr.. Jerome
claimed that the defense by introduc.
ing DR.. Hamilton as a witness il the
Thaw trial had waived the right of
privilege. The commission held hat
as the privilege had not ben waived be-
fore it, Dr. Hamilton could not testify
as to the personal examinations OF
Thaw.
desultory interest in the proceedings
after this until it seemed that the com
mission was about to close its inquiry.
Then he jumped to his feet, protested
that he had been hampered in the lun-
aey proceedings by the commission bar
IAg out pertinent testimony, declared
Jhe commission had refused to "illu-
niRate it's intelligence from docu-
nentary evidence which he had pre-
sented and had declined to hear ex-
pert testimony.
MIR. Jerome asserted with some feel
nag that if he We're allowed the prop
eF latitude he could prove beyond
reasonable doubt that Thaw is insane
today and incapable of advising Ais
counsel in a rational manner
Afser the district attorney had spok-