Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-03
IHAN UND[RGO[S
ADDED ORDEAL
n- -
Commission in Secret Session
Examines His Physical and
Mental Condition
JEROME AGAIN IN A HUFF
JEROME AGAIN IN a HUFF

nesses-Experts Disagree as to
Thaw's Mental Condition at the
Present Time-Hearing Nears Close.
New York, April 3.--When the Thaw
lunacy commission went into session
today Jerome called to the witness
stand, DR.. Allen Ross Diefendorf. SUI
perintendent of the state hospital for
the insane at Middleton, Conn.,, and
professor Of mental nervous diseases
at Yale University. Diefendorf testified
that from what he had seen of Thaw
and writings he had examined, he was
OF the opinion that Thaw was not now
capable of rightly understanding his
own position, or of appreciating the
nature of the charge against him, or
nationally advising his counsel.
Diefendorf examined at some length
twenty-four pages of suggestions made,
by Thaw to Delmas for his summing
up address, and declared that they
emanated from diseased brain. The
suggestions made by Thaw, he said,
indicated delusional state of mind.
Did you think that he had delu-
sions wien he committed homicide?"
asked Chairman Mcclure.
Yes" replied the witness, who went
into an elaborate explanation of the
difference between medical and legal
insanity, declaring Thaw medically, but
not legally, insane, when he shot and
killed White He admitted that he
never personally examined Thaw, but
thought him to be suffering from
paranoia.
s Chairman Mcclure cross examined
the witness for twenty minutes or more
in a semi secret fashion, the attor-
neys being gathered about the COM
missioners desk, and questions and
answers being in tones inaudible beyond
that circle. Suddenly Jerome broke the
quiet by saying in loud voice:
81 must object to the questions be-
ing nut to this witness by the commits
sion. They are not q proper cross
examination. If you will pardon my
frankness in saying so, you are trying.
to put this gentleman in the dishonor-
able position Of swearing to one thing
a one time, and another thing at am
other time. You must remember that
he swore upon one set Of facts at the
trial and upon a different set Of facts
today"
IF this witness is in a dishonorable
position," interrupted Hartridge, he
put himself in it. That's all there IS
to ii"
~s.,, kf~,, At
was shortly concluded.
DR.. Charles G.. Wagner, of Blgham-
4on N. Y. declared that thruout the
trial Thaw had acted and converseo
an an entirely rational manner. He
fully understood the nature OF the
proceedings against him, and had ad-
yised with his attorneys in the near
ing of the doctor. Wagner said that
he had talked with Thaw as late as
this morning, when he discussed the
trial for more than half an hour.
wagner told the commission that ne
mad testified at the trial that Thaw
was insane when he shot and killed
white and was insane for two months
afterwards in the Tombs.
care you prepared, doctor. in view
of all you know of this defendant and
his family history, ETC.. to say that he
is q sane man today?" asked Jer-
5ome.
! "I am not here to state positively"
said Wagner. "From my conversation
with him this morning, and from my
intercourse with him during the trial,
am forced to say that am unable to
discover anything to warrant the
opinion that he is not sane.
Jeromes efforts to secure more di-
rect reply were Intellectual.
Wagner repeated to the commission
some Of his more recent conversations
with Thaw When he first saw Thaw
in the Tombs, the prisoner said he had
acted as the agent of providence in
dispatching white.
..I talk with him on that subject
this morning." continued Wagner,
"and asked him if he still thought
there was any supernatural agency in
killing White He said that he was
convinced there was not. / asked him
If he thought. his present condition
was serious He said he thought that
1t had been very serious, but thought
that the attorneys had made such
progress at the trial that his position
was not so serious as at first Taken
altogether. his talk was intelligent,
his answers responsive, and he showed
q clear grasp of the situation. The
commission then went into executive
session for the final mental and phys
ical examination of Thaw. Even the
lawyers on both sides were barred
from this last hearing. Dr. Putzel, a
member of the commission, 1t was an
nounced. would make whatever phys
ical examination was deemed neces-
'sary.
AT s:37 O'Clock this afternoon it was
announced that the examination of
Thaw had been completed.
w,, plead BRAIN STORM.