Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-02-12
THAW IS INSANE
DECLARES EXPERT
Tells of the Defend
ants Actions in
Tombs
MURDERER NOT TO TESTIFY
Prosecution Believed to Have
Secured Damaging Evi.
dence in Copy of Note.

New York, Feb. 12.--The first wit
ness in the Thaw trial today was DR..
Britton D. Evans, superintendent of
the state insane hospital at Morris
Plains, New Jersey, which he said
contained on an average of 1900 pa.
tlents.
He testified that he first saw Thaw
on August 4, 1906, in the Tombs and
had visited him eight times since
then. On his first visit on August
I, DR.. Evans said:
Described Suspicious Actions.
"Thaw exhibited a number of
peculiar expressions such as a glaring
of the eyes, restlessness of the eyes,
suspicion Of his surroundings and of
me, and a nervous agitation and rest
lessness such as comes from severe
brain storm, common in those who
have gone through an explosive or
Illuminating condition of mental un-
soundness. He exhibited some delu-
sions of personal character, mainly
exaggerated ego and along with them
deluslons of persecutory character
He thought himself of exaggerated
Importance and believed himself to
be prosecuted by number of persons.
These symptoms are Characteristic Of
several mental diseases.
An Expert Description Given.
"Of these several mental diseases,
the one indicated by Thaw's actions" J"
Evans declared" is adolescent insan-
ity. In adolescent insanity, the pa
tient exhibits no marked symptoms,
but when stress comes the man does
not break down as an ordinary man
would; instead, there is a complete
loss of mental balance, an explosive
condition of the brain, all reason be-
comes dethroned, the will power Is
lost and the brain operates as a ship
does in the wind without it's rudder--
the balance wheel is gone. The acts
~ ousi o iudh dlV uOt lut dCto VI d
normal man, but show him to be
guided by stress and disease. His
mind has left it's moorings and has
yielded to the diseased conditions"
Condition Now Improved.
DIR. Evans said that as a result of
his first three visits he reached the
opinion that Thaw was of unsound
mind. AS a result of his last five WIS.,
its he said he had reached the opinion
that Thaw's mental condition. while
still impaired, was somewhat i'm
proved over his first visit.
Thaw Not to Testify.
Counsel for Thaw unexpectedly an
nounced last night that it would take
about two days more to put in the
direct case for the defense. This Of
course, does not take into considera.
ton the cross examination of Thaw's
witnesses by District Attorney Je.
rome but indicates plainly that Thaw
will not go on the witness stand.
Damaging Evidence Is Secured.
What is regarded as an important
document in connection with the trial
1t Is understood was obtained yester-
day by Jerome from Abe Hummel, a
prominent lawyer 1t is photo
graphic copy of the statement which
Evelyn Thaw testified Hummel die.
tated when she went to his Office with
White. 1t is understood that 1t
charges that Thaw i'll treated her and
even beat her. Jerome and Hummel
met in down town restaurant yes.
ferday and a brief conference followed
during which Jerome made a number
of notes.
ThaW's Birthday; 36 Years Old.
Although today was Lincoln's birth
day 1t was decided to hold court. 1t
was also Thaw's birthday. He was 36
years old today.