Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-16
THAW DIDN'T KNOW
ACT WAS WRONG
OPINION OF EXPERT ALlENIST AS
TO HARRY'S MENTAL CONDl-
TON.
IHAW'S MIND WAS UNSOUND
EXPERT SAYS HE WAS INSANE
WHEN HE KILLED STANFORD
WHITE.

New York, Feb 49, - Answering a
Hypothetical question covering every
detail Of the testimony up to this time
in the Thaw trial. including Mrs. Mes
bit Thaw's narration of her life history
to the defendant, DR.. Charles G. Wag-
ner, superintendent of the state hospi-
tai for the insane at BinghamtOn, N.
Y, declared on the witness stand late
yesterday that in his opinion Harry K.
Thaw did not know that the act was
wrong when he shot and killed Stan
ford White. DR.. Wagner stepped
aside for later cross examination by
District Attorney Jerome, and as the
court adjourned for the day it was an
nonuced that the defense would pro
coed with the testimony Of other
alienists this morning.
Note Is introduced.
When young Mrs. Thaw was called
to the stand Mr.. Delmas renewed his
demand of Wednesday last, that the
note which was passed by Mrs. ThaW
night of the tragedy should be pro-
duced. Mr.. Jerome upon the occasion
of the first demand had remained ST.
lent. Yesterday he was on his feet
at once, saying he would send for the
slip of paper. 1t was brought from his
office, was identified by Mrs. Thaw and
then read by Mr.. Delmas. as follows:
"The b was here a minute ago,
but went out again.
"B" Stands for Backyard.
Mrs. Thaw testified that the B."
meant 'the blackguard," as Thaw al
whom she had seen on the balcony Of
| the cafe.
The other essential point Mrs.
Thaw was allowed to bring out in her
testimony was the statement that the
defendant never carried a pistol ex-
cept in New York city. She was ask
ed many other questions, embOdying
various stories she had discussed with
Thaw, including the alleged fate of
girl known to them as "The Pie Girl"
at the hands of Stanford White, but
Mr.. Jerome blocked every question
with maintained objection.
Clash Between Lawyers.
New York, Feb 14-District Attor-
ney Jerome and Dolphin Delmas came
| together late yesterday in the first Sc
rious clash between counsel in the
Thaw trial, and the California attor-
ney, who is directing the defense, took
exceptions to certain statements OF
the prosecuting officer and had insert
ed in the record of the case a protest
against the misconduct of the learned
district Attorney"
Mr.. Jerome holly accused the de-
PENDANTS counsel of trying to instiIl
into the minds of the jury the implied
suggestion that the operation perform
ed upon Evelyn Nesbit in 1908, before
Thaw took her to Europe, was 'Of a
criminal nature" when, "as a matter
of fact" he said, "it was for append
citis."
DeImas Takes Exceptions.
Mr. Delmas called the attention of
Justice Fitzgerald to this, saying that
the district attorney was stating facts
not in evidence, and that "a very serl-
Gus exception must be taken to his re-
marks"
DR.. Britton D. Evans, superintend-
ent OF the state hospital for the insane
at Morris Plains, N. j., was the wit
ness, and he testified earlier in the day
that he was of the opinion that Harry
Thaw was insane at the time of the
tragedy. He had been called upon to
answer a long hypothetical question,
in which reference had been made to
"a serious if not capital operation
upon Miss Nesbit when the storm
between counsel broke.
Thaw's Mind Was Unsound.
Justice Fitzgerald did not rule out
any of the district attorneys remarks
before the jury, and Mr.. Delmas took
care to have every exception he made
seriously noted Mr.. Jerome won
his point, and the words serious ii
not capital" as defining the operation,
we're withdrawn by Mr.. Delmas.
DR.. Evans was by far the most sat
isfactory expert witness to the defense
so far produced. He detailed to the
iTrv his observations and examinations
of Harry Thaw during eight visits to
the prisoner in the Tombs and declar-
ed it to be his opinion that Thaw was
suffering from "a brain storm or an ex,
nlosive or Illuminating condition OF
mental unsoundness" at the time he
shot and killed Stanford White. Or.
Evans gave many and elaborate rea
sons for his opinion.