The Washington herald., 1907-03-05
JEROME GROWS MILD
Thaw Prosecutor Suddenly
Changes His Tactics.
HAS EXPERTS BETWEEN FIRES
If AIIenists Go Too Far on Insanity
Plea, District Attorney May Seek
Lunacy Commission; IL They DO
Net Go Far Enough, Conviction for
Murder May BE Demanded.


ing two Of the alienists for the defense
in the Thaw trial, District Attorney
jerome took an entirely new tack. Jerome
directed his line of questioning more to-
ward showing Thaw's condition of mind
on the night he killed Stanford White.
than toward anything else. And JeTome's
questions were not for the purpose OF
showing that Thaw was insane that night,
but more TO show that ne knew what ne
was deing and that he carried out the
plan Of killing White carefully and me-
thodically
All the things that have indicated in the
last few days CT the trial that Jerome
was trying 20 pile up evidence on which
TO base an application for a lunacy COM
mission to determine whether Thaw is
sane now. We're lost sight of. On the con-
trary, Jerome's aim appeared to be to
convince the jury that Thaw's act was
not that of a mailman, but of a man who
had definite object in mind, and aware
of what he was doing and realized every
thing that was going on.
Heading for Electric Chair.
jerome is heading Thaw straight for
the electric chair instead of a lunacy COM
mission" was the comment of lawyer
who had listened to the days testimony.
Jerome's examination OF DR.. Britton ID.
Evans. which went or for three days,
ended At noon to-day. Then Dr. Charles
G. Wagner, another of the experts for
the defense, was called for his cross-ex-
animation. Dr. Wagner was stiH on the
stand at adjournment this afternoon, and
It is probable that Jerome viii take up
another half day with him.
Jerome's manner toward the experts
was entirely different to-day. He was
very mild, gentle, and persuasive. With
Dr. Evans he adopted a conversational
tone, and they did not have a tiff the
entire morning. DR., Evans did not seem
to quite understand the Jerome of to-day
as compared with other days With Dr.
Wagner Jerome adopted the same course,
but DIR. Wagner appeared to be a little
antagonistic toward Jerome.
DIR. Evans Leaves stand.
DIR. Evans examination wound up with
a description of everything done by Thaw
from the time he went to the Madison
Square Garden on the night Of the shoot
ing until he was started for the Tender
loin station in charge of a policeman
Despite every effort on Jerome's part.
he did not succeed in pinning him down
&c any definite statement
In walking over 10 White and shoot
ing him. DR.. Evans characterized Thaw's
act as abnormal Thaw knew that he
was walking toward White, but there
WIS nothing to show that he knew the
killing was wrong After the shooting
when Thaw said he had saved his wifcs
life, DIT. Evans said Thaw knew he had
done something. but he might not have
known that he killed White When
Thaw got TO the street and asked the
policeman where he was going, there had
been "a readjustment OF reorganization
of his mental processes" and he knew
that he was going to the station, and
that he had shot White. That was not
so long after the killing, probably not
more than ten minutes at the outside.
DIR. Wagner Examined.
Dr. Wagner was taken over the same
course by Jerome. At one time he said
that Thaw lis insane" but as Jerome
did not follow it up, it was taken for
granted that DIR. Wagner meant that
Thaw was insane at the time he killed
White
In view of the statements made by
Jerome in court on the question of Thaw's
sanity now. and the prevailing opinion
that Jerome has been striving to have
d commission appointed to determine
Thaws sanity. the experts did not have
a pleasant time Of it when Jerome took
another tack entirely.
Practically all Of Jer0me's time to-day
was apparently taken up in showing that
Thaw killed White premeditatlvely and
deliberately. There WAS nothing in any
of his questions 10 show that he thought
Thaw was insane at the time Instead
he went bit by bit over everything Thaw
did that evening, before and after the
killing, with the evident purpose 10 get
from the experts admissions that every
thing done by Thaw showed that he was
in possession Of his mental faculties. and
that he did not kin White in a brain
storm"
Between Two Fires.
This left the witnesses up against two
propositions. Ii they went too far on
the temporary insanity defense, jerome
might be getting ammunition for lunacy
commission. IT, on the other hand there
was not sufficient testimony 70 show that
Thaw was unbalanced when he killed
White, Jerome would have plenty Of mat
ter 10 argue TO the jury for conviction
of murder. II it was Jerome's plan 10
put the defense in the position of not
forcing the insanity plea too far by init
mating that he was fit for a lunacy COM
mission, it was the opinion to-day that he
had accomplished his purpose to a great
extent.
When DIR. Wagner leaves the stand
which may be some time tomorrow. Mrs
William Thaw will be called She waited
ia the witness room this afternoon rs
the lawyers for the defense thought that
Jerome might set through with Dr.. Wag-
ner before the day was over. 1t is not ex-
pected that Mrs. Thaw's testimony will
take up very much time
Justice Fitzgerald Complains.
Justice Fitzgerald intimated TODAY that
the lawyers for the defense were not
making enough objections to Jerome's
DISCRIMINATION and the court was not
being assisted in keeping out matter
which might be called reversible errors
II was his aim, Justice Fitzgerald said
to keep the trial free from anything that
might not meet with the approval OF the
higher courts and he asked the lawyers
10 help him in following out that course.
Found Dead on steps.
Rose Fitzhugh. colored, forty-seven
years old. was found dead on the front
steps Of 1702 street northwest shortly
before o'clock this morning. The police
discovered the woman. and, believing her