Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-24
JEROME PLANS
To SEND 1THAW
To AN ASYLUM
This Is Thought to
Be the Program
Prisoners Mother Said to BE Anxious
to Avoid Further Trial Of
the Extremely Racy
Case

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. 23.-Counsel for
Harry K. Thaw spent good part OF
today denying the usual crop of recess
rumors which spring up during every
adjournment. The attorneys were par
ticularly anxious to have 1t understood
that they will fight any attempt to have
a commission in lunacy appointed.
Despite this, however, the belief
grows that Mr.. Jerome is continually
pointing his efforts in that direction.
He perhaps may have been influenced
by this idea in making the cross-exam-
nation of Evelyn Thaw unnecessarily
cruel
He hoped that the authorities for the
defense might profit by this first show
of severity and agree to the appoint
ment of commission. When they
failed to do this jerome maneuvered in
another direction.
He, himself declaring openly that he
had no taste for the ordeal to which he
was subjecting the frail young woman,
wanted to have her testimony stopped
long enough to put on the stand Drs.
Deemar and Bingaman, physicians to
both branches of the prisoners famlly.
1t is now said that Mr.. Jerome's idea
was to build up from the testimony OF
these two physicians the groundwork
for his application for a lunacy COM
mission. The defense object to this,
despite the fact that the doctors were
summoned from Pittsburg in behalf of
the defendant.
Jerome Changes Tactics
Some days ago Mr.. Jerome was given
permission to examine the two physi-
clans in his office, the idea being that
their testimony might be taken in depo-
sitions. Evidently something occurred
during the examination to cause the
defense to take new view of the case.
The district attorney in insisting
that the doctors be heard declared that
1t was necessary for them to take the
stand, as the introduction of deposit
tions was not possible without the con-
sent Of the other side. 1t was said that
Mr.. Jeromes anxiety to have the doc
tors testify at the earliest possible mo-
ment can have but one meaning. that
their evidence must do with the de-
fendant's state of mind, as shown
through hereditary taints in both
branches of his family.
Before Mr.. Jerome had examined the
witnesses in person he blocked most of
their testimony. Now he is more than
ANXIOUS 10 get IL OIL tHe reCoruS.
Want Trial to Stop
1t is also reported that Mrs. William
Thaw and other members of the Thaw
family are anxious that the trial, with
all it's shocking revelations, shall stop.
District Attorney Jerome has just be-
gun to show the strength of his hand,
it is said, in testing the credibility of
young Mrs. Thaw and will have much
evidence to offer concerning her rela-
tions with the defendant before their
marriage. Everything that happened
between them seems to be known to the
prosecutor.
When the trial is resumed Monday
Mr. Jerome may again try to induce
the defendants attorney to allow Drs.
Deemar and Bingaman to go on the
stand. If they follow Thaw's wishes,
however, they will oppose this move
ment. Mr.. Jerome is not likely to ask
for a commission until more medical
testimony is taken.
The breaking down of Mrs. Thaw's
story will have little effect on the ques-
ton of sanity or insanity of the de-
fendant, which is the real issue of the
case.
If the commission on lunacy is not
appointed the trial may drag along for
many weeks longer.