The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1907-02-06
TUESDAYS DEVELOPMENTS.
DR.. Wiley, Expert on Insanity on the
Stand Most of the Day.


New York, Feb. 6,--As related in
the dispatches yesterday, the entire
day was given over to the examination
of expert witnesses who were calledeby
the defense to testify as to the mental
capacities of the accused. DR.. G, C.
Wiley was on the stand the greater
part Of the day and the cross-exami-
nation was the most severe ever con-
Quoted by the prosecution in the his.
tory of the state of New York
DrN Wiley was the first witness for
the defense, and i'm response to ques-
tions by John B. Gleason of Thaw's S
counsel, said he had devoted much of
his life to study of insanity and that
he had served as an expert in large
number of cases.
DR.. Wiley was asked to state his
recollection of an incident in 1905 in
which Harry K. Thaw was concerned.
Tn the summer of 1905,'' said the
witness, Il was passenger on street
car of the Fifth avenue line in Pitts
burg when Harry Thaw came in.
Without any apparent reason ThaW
rushed for one of the blinds to win
dow, drew up the blind. slammed it
down again and then drew 1t up once
more. He had a quarrel with the con-
ductor"
esstFVhat was Thaw's manner2"
1t was defiant, vague and his eyes
flashed from right to left in this way,
DR., Wiley illustrated with his eyes.
"As an expert and from your perso-
nal observation, can you say whether
his actions were rational or irration-
al?"
Irrational"
Mr. Gleason here formed an hypoth-
ecal question in which he outlined
Thaw's action in killing Stanford
White on the Madison Square roof
garden and coupled with it the inter
rogation as to whether the witness
could express an opinion of such an
action committed by the person nc
saw in the Pittsburg street car
Il can" said DR.. Wiley.
"Will you express that opinion ?"
Il believe that that man"
District Attorney Jerome objected.
You must not state a belief" said
Mr. Jerome. "That is not evidence.
You must give an opinion"
my opinion" said DR.. Wiley, sis
that the man who committed the act
described was suffering from heredi-
tary insanity. The common blood
would flow through brothers, and,
therefore. a cousin, the son of an uncle
of the defendant, might follow the
same hereditary influence"
Are YOU dCqudlHJcu, dS you SIT
there, with the forms of insanity which
the law of this state defines as ex-
cuses for crime?s asked Mr.. Jerome.
mot entirety"
"Then your opinion on the hypothe-
cal question you have answered was
given as a scientific man. You had in
mind the various phases of mental alb
erration which scientific men meet to-
gether and discuss?'
''Yes, and from my own application
of the medical knowledge on the sub
ject.'
Mr. Jerome then asked the witness
if he really considered himself an ex-
pert.
Il feel that have had experience"
THAT is not the point" interrupted
Jerome. Are you an expert; we don't
know whether you are or not?"
81 think ] am competent"
Are you an expert?" shouted Jer-
ONE
Il am an authority" DR.. Wiley re-
Piled.
During the testimony of DR.. Wiley
Thaw sat with paper In hand, taking
notes and consulting constantly with
Mr. Peabody of his counsel. The de-
fendant was paler today than on yes
terday, and seemed much more COM
posed.
After DR.. Wiley had said he was an
authority, he was asked by MIR. Jer-
ONE If he was willing. to go on record
CONTINUED on Page Six.