Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-04-11
HEMAYKONWSOON
The Lunacy Commission VIII Report
Upon Harry K. Thaw's Con-
ditlon Thursday Morning.
DEFENDANT IS OPTIMISTIC
He Believes the Report viii Declare
Him Sane and That the Trial
VIII 90 on--May Fin
M lph This Week.


brings another critical stage in the
case Of Harry X. Thaw, when the
slayer Of Stanford White either Will
be- officially proclaimed insane and
ordered sent to q state asylum or
his trial will be resumed before JUS
tice fitzgerald upon the finding Of the
lunacy commission that the defendant
Is at this time capable Of rightly under
standing his own position, of appre-
ciating the nature of the charges
against him and Of nationally adj
yising with his counsel. The COM
mission completed its work Wednes-
day night and will be ready to report
to Justice Fitzgerald Thursday morn
ing.
Thaw underwent q private mental
and physical examination for more
than two hours wednesday afternoon
In this last crucial test he was entire
" alone before the commission, even
the district attorneys and the members
Of his own counsel being barred.
When the three members Of the com
mission David Mcclure, Peter B. o.
ney and DR.. Leopold Putzel-had COM
pleted their final examination they
shook hands with Thaw in most
cordial manner. He went back to his
cell In the Tombs with a light heart
and declared later to his counsel that
he felt the commission would surely
declare him sane. The attorneys
shared their clients optimistic view
Of the situation. District Attorney
Jerome would not commit himself In
any way. Thaw's counsel declared
they were ready to proceed with the
case and believed that Mr.. Delmas
might begin his summing up address
before noon. In that event they said
Mr.. Jerome would address the jury
on Friday and verdict might be ex'
pected before the week end
There is little or no likelihood that
the report of the commission which
has inquired into Thaw's present men,
tai state will be made public, II
the decision favors Thaw, Justice Fitz-
gerald will merely order the trial to
proceed without any reference what
soever to the interruption which be-
gan two weeks ago. Should the de-
olson be against Thaw, Justice Fitz-
gerald would have to quote but briefly
from the formal finding Of the COM
mission in his order committing the
young man to an asylum.
II committed Thaw would have to
remain in the asylum until declared
sane by the superintendent of the In
stitution. Then he would be brought
back here and tried again,
The last public session Of the COM
mission was held wednesday morn
ing to hear the testimony Of two
more alienists-Dr. Allen Rose Diefen-
dorf Of Mlddletown, Conn. for the
prosecution, and DR.. Charles @. Wag-
ner Of Binghamton, N. Y, for the de-
tense.
DR.. Wagner repeated many Of his
more recent conversations with Thaw
and gave the defendants idea Of his
present predicament. Thaw declared
that he realized his position was SER
ious. He thought, however, his attor-
neys had made such good progress
during the trial that he was in much
better position than when It was be-
gun. He said he had no deluston
now that his act was an act OF provi-
dence.
When the commission began It's pri-
yate examination Of the defendant the
members questioned him particular
~ about this delusion and others
from which II has been testified he
was suffering at the time he shot
and killed Stanford White. Or. PutSel
Of the commission conducted the brief
physical examination to which Thaw
was subjected.