The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-20

New York. March ls.-Harry K. Thaw's
lawyers did not finish the presentation
of his case to-day after all. Right up TO
the close Of the afternoon session it was
hoped that it would be possible to do this
so that DeImas might sum UP the case
for the defense tomorrow. But Jerome
took a good deal Of time cr0ss-examining
the reinforcement Of Thaw alienists. and
on top of everything else the lawyers got
into a snarl over the admission in the
evidence one of the letters which Thaw
had written TO Mr. Lyon. the Pittsburg
banker
As he had promised Jerome when he
was a witness. the banker had sent on
from Pittsburg a bundle of letters Thaw
had written him. These had been in the
custody of Court Clerk Penney. and the
district attorney argued that the defense
should have introduced them before it
rested its case in chief. if at all. The
talk was stin going on at 5:l5 p. m, and
as it was plain that it might go on for
some time there was no hope of winding
up things.
DeImas Fights for Letters.
Delmas told the court that if the letters
were ruled out he might ask TO introduce
testimony regarding their contents. The
head lawyer for Thaw said after court had
adjourned that it was almost certain that
the defense would rest tomorrow, proba-
bly, at the morning session. If the prose-
cution has nothing more to add. as now
seems likely. an adjournment will then be
had until Thursday, when Delmas will
sum up. probably occupying the entire day
in the task. Friday will be Jerome's, and
when he is through the court may at once
charge the jury or let it go over until
Monday
The district attorney limited to-day that
he had hopes that another important Wit
ness, who has been out of this country,
would arrive here before the case was
finally closed. If this happened. he init
mated that he would make an effort to
have this witness testify. He declined to
hint at the identity OF this witness, and
there was much speculation as 70 who It
could be. Some guessers suggested Miss
Ida Simonton, who has been in Africa re-
Gently Il was Miss Simonton TO whom
Harry ThaW cabled from Paris TO go to
London and take Mrs. Holman 10 this
country. II was Miss Simonton, too, of
whom Evelyn Thaw testified that Stan
ford White said that he was afraid,
though he could handle twenty mammas.
Enough of Evelyn Thaw.
Apparently the Thaw lawyers have de-
cided that the jury has seen enough OF
young Mrs. Thaw, and that she is not
needed for the purpose OF c0ntradicting
the HummeI testimony about the alleged
affidavit.
The elder Mrs. Thaw had not visited
the Criminal Courts building for several
days until to-day. This afternoon, how
ever. she was there when court adjourn
ed and Immediately there was a confer
ence between her and the lawyers for
the defense. It lasted nearly an hour.
and il Is understood that Mrs Thaw de-
clared thar If she were allowed 10 take
the stand again she could give testimony
that would greatly strengthen her sons
case. Apparently she did not succeed in
SO convincing the lawyers. for after the
conference Delmas announced that she
would not testify again.
Make Sparks Fly.
There were nothing but experts in sight
all day to-day. DR.. Smith Ely Jelline
put in all the morning under cross-exami-
nation, and contributed a great deal of
entertainment. He answered Jerome's
questions in "a snaPpy, pugnacious manner
and as the district attorney himself was
in good form the sparks flew frequently
The district attorney was trying TO ex-
anime the witness about some textbook
on insanity that he had revised. and
somewhat irritably showed the open
volume under the witness nose. asking
him If ii was not his own preface writ
ten with his own hands.
Pray be calm sir" said DR.. Jelliffe. in
q soothing tone. IF you will look
again you viii see that the preface was
written by DR.. Shaw, who died many
years ago"
Deimas presently objected that the book
in question was not in evidence, where
upon Jerome became peevish.
Il submit. your honor" he said. that
/ have the right TO impeach this witness
on his own words, and to show. the jury
that he was testifying falsely"
BraiBstOrm Again.
In time the district attorney got down
TO the brainstorm
DR.. Jelli1e said that he thought it an
excellent term TO describe a mental out
burst of an insane man. so that the lay
mind could comprehend it. He further
said that he knew of eleven cases Of
acute insanity. some Of which were classl-
ted as acute OF mild paranoia. which
greatly resembled the kind of insanity
Thaw suffered from when he shot White.
In the afternoon DIR. Charles W. Pill
grim. president of the State commission
ia lunacy and Or. /. Gregory, at present
attached as an alienist to Bellevue Hos
pital, testified on the basis of Jerome's
hypothetical question that Thaw was in
sane when he shot White Dr.. Pilgrim
got OF with a brief cross-examination.
but DR. Gregory got a half hours grill
ing.
They were followed by Drs. Wagner and
Evans, recalled, who made the same an
swers TO JerOme's hypothetical question.
The question of the Thaw letter to Mr..
Lyon was next up and was still unsettled
when court adjourned.