The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-05
PBiSTS Wly 10 ASYLUM
Jerome Struggling hard to Send
Thaw to Madhouse.
PRISONERS ACTIONS MAY AID
cross.Examinatlon Of Expert Points
That Way, and Thaw's Peculiar

adolescence, paranOia and the charac-
teristics OF brain storms occupied
both sessions OF the Thaw trial. and
when adjournment until Monday morn
ing was ordered Or. Britton ID. Evans,
one of the alienists for the defense,
was still under crOss-eXaminauon. DIS
trict Attornev Jeromes course in ques-
tioning the witness was somewhat bali
fling. During the greater part OF the
time he seemed DESTROYS to have Dr.
Evans unqualinedly admit that Thaw
suffered from paranOia, which is prac-
tically incurable. Again he brought
from the witness the opinion that
whom Thaw armed himself he Well
knew that a revolver was an instru-
ment for protection, and when
fired into a human body would pro-
duce death. Finally the prosecutor
wanted to know if the actions OF per-
son suffering from a brain storm. or
mental explosion, would be character
lied by the calm. deliberate manner
which Thaw displayed the night ne
shot Stanford White to death on the
Madison Square Roof Garden.
The net result Of the day appeared
to be that Mr.. Jerome Is still laying
the foundation upon which he may ask
for a commission in lunacy TO judge
Of the present mental condition OF the
defendant. Even to the extent OF
greatly fatiguing the judge and jury,
the district attorney dwelt upon the
subject of adoescent insanity and par
anoia. endeavoring to establish re-
lationship between the two. and being
at last rewarded by Dr. Evans admit
ting that the defendants will and
codicil did suggest to his mind a par
anoic form of adolescent insanity.
Adolescent insanity. it has been eX-
planned. is common in persons during
the development period Of life-from
10 TO 40 years-while paranoia is
fixed insanity upon one subject-mono-
mania Justice Fitzgerald indicated
his fatigue after three days cross-ex-
animation OF the expert when Mr.. Je-
rome began to question Dr. Evans
about his knowledge of other instances
Of adolescent insanity which had re-
suited in acts of homicide. The alien
list said there was woman in his hos
pital for the insane at Morris Plains,
N. J.. who in the midst of a brain
storm. or mental explosion, had killed
two OF her children.
How long has she been in the asy-
lum?" asked Mr. Jerome sharply.
zone year"
as she cured?"
II has been but eight months since
Harry Thaw shot Stanford White.
DR.. Evans said the woman had
shown improvement. that her decisions
weer not so marked. but she was not
cured.
The district attorney and the judge
h id a wordy conflict when Mr. Jerome
asked Or. Evans TO give his opinion
Of DR.. Allan McI.ane Hamilton. who is
to he called in rebuttal by the state.
and who is reported to have said no
believed Harry Thaw to be suffering
from a form Of insanity which it is
not possible to have eradicated by this
time
81 refuse 10 answer" witness replied.
Mr.. Jerome argued the point and
cited a part of the record in the Pre-
SUSSEX case at Albany. where the pre-
siding Judge had allowed one expert
10 give an opinion of another
Now you will direct the witness To
answer" suggested Mr. Jerome inquir-
ingly of the Justice
81 will not" responded Justice Fitz-
gerald. He added that he would not
rule finally on the point until he had
read the entire record Of the Presusscr
trial. As Mr. Jerome said the rule
would cover the last questions Of his
examination. the adjournment until
Monday was ordered DR. Evans will
then again be upon the stand.
Dr. Evans declared that Thaw
showed a degree Of adolescent insanity
when he wrote the letters in 1903 after
Evelyn Nesbit had told him Of her
alleged wrong at the hands Of Stan
ford White The delusions apparent in
the letters were more concentrated in
the will and cOdicil executed April (.
1905, and when taken by themselves
indicated a paranoic form Of the in
sanity OF adolescence. On June p.
1906, when Thaw shot and killed Stan
ford White. Dr. Evans said the defend
ant was suffering from an explosive
outburst of adoescent insanity.
Now that Evelyn Nesbit Thaw Is no
longer upon the stand and the center
OF all interest. the prisoner is attract
ing more and more attention. He gave
out no statements but just before the
close of the morning session created
almost as great a sensation as when
he issued his attack upon the "unpro-
fessionar' methods Of the district at
torney.
Through his counsel. Thaw asked
permission to absent himself from the
room DR.. Evans at the time was ex-
aiming an exhibit and the request
was granted
When he got into the prisoners
pen Thsw threw off his hat, brought
his heels together and began violently
to go through five minutes drill at
setting up exercises. The guard
looked on in amazement When he
had finished swinging his arms. Thaw
announced that he was ready to re-
turn to the court room, declaring that
he felt he had been compelled TO take
the exercise. Mr.. Jerome during the
luncheon hour was minutely informed
Of the defendants conduct and made
notes upon II.
Sells More Of Chambehsln's Cough Remedy than
of All Others Put ToEstha.
Mr.. Thos. George. q merchant at Mt.