The Washington herald., 1907-04-04

New York, April 3.-There is good
ground for the belief that the commission
which has been inquiring into the sanity
Of Harry K. Thaw Will announce to-mor-
row morning that Thaw Is now mentally
competent 10 intelligently advise with
his counsel in regard to the conduct Of
his trial. In that event it is likely that
the trial VIII be resumed az once. and
Dolphin Michael Delmas, chief of Thaw s
counsel, may sum up tomorrow.
The commission finished It's work. with
the exception Of preparing its formal re-
port. this afternoon. with an examina-
ton Of Thsw in private. This examina-
ton lasted over two and a half hours.
It consisted Of physical and mental
examination. and from what could be
learned. Thaw went through It very well.
At its finish the three commissioner
David Mcclure. Peter B. Olney. and DIR.
Leopold Putzel-aTe said to have shaken
hands with him.
After Thaw's examination the commits
sion held a long session in Justice Fitz-
geralds private chambers. The com
missioners were getting ready the report
which Il is expected they viii hle tO-mor-
row morning with Justice Fitzgerald The
commissioners refused to say what they
We're doing, but 1t was learned tonight
that the decision would ne that Thaw Is
now able 70 nationally advise with coun-
sci There was a report that Dr. Putzel
would submit a minority report that ne
believes Thaw now insane. but reliable
sources said that the commissions re-
port would be unanimous Should there
be a majority report. which would be
signed. Of course, by the two lawyer
members Of the c0mmissiOn-Air. Nc
Clure and Mr. Olney-it is probable that
Justice Fitzgerald will accept that re-
port.
Physical Examination Begins.
The private examination Of Thaw be-
gan shortly after y O'Clock. For about
an hour Thaw was subject TO physical
examination. only the members of the
commission and the stenographer were
present His examination was about the
same as that which any patient suspected
Of insanity goes through. The commits
sioners-Dr Putzel taking the leading part
examined Thaw's head and used the
Romberg. consensuai, and other tests.
When the examination was over the COM
mission adjourned for luncheon.
When the commission got down TO busi-
ness again, Thaw was put through an oral
examination He was q festioned about
all the important phases If the case. For
long time he was asked about the delu-
slons DE had-that ia killing White he
acted as an agent of Providence. He said
he was over an that and no longer be-
iieved that there was anything super
natural In his killing Of White.
As TO the statements he made that he
believed that there was a conspiracy on
the part Of his former lawyers. District
Attorney Jerome. and influential friends
OF Stanford White to railroad him TO Mat
teawan. he told another story. He no
longer believed that He felt that his
lawyers were acting on what they
thought we're good motives, but they were
misguided. But he was sure now that
there was no conspiracy against him. al
though from the conception Of the thing
he had at the start he thought this was
a conspiracy against his best interests.
Thaw ConsuIts Counsel.
Neither District Attorney Jerome nor
the Thaw lawyers were present during
the examination, except for about fifteen
minutes. when Mr.. dartridge was sent for
by the commission. II was learned later
that Thaw had been asked "A pretty inn
portant question and puzzled over IL for
a little while. Then he announced that
he did not think he should answer it with
out the advice Of his counsel So the
commissioners sent for Mr.. Hartridge.
who talked with ThaW on the subject
After that the examination went on, and
Mr.. Hartridge left the room.
When Thaw got back 10 the Tombs he
was in good spirits. He told his lawyers
who called on him that he had gone
through the examination all right The
lawyers were elated. From their stand
point they cannot see how anything can
happen TO Thaw now.
District Attorney Jerome refused TO
make any comment on what decision he
expected from the commission. There Is
no Disgusting the fact. though. that the
feeling in the district attorneys office is
that the commission wiz declare ThaW
sane. The attitude of the commissioners
has been that they had nothing TO do
with whether Thaw is medically insane
now their job is to determine whether
he Is able 20 nationally advise with eoun-
that a man who should be incarcerated
in an asylum should not be on trial for
his life. and that a paranoiac. which he
says Thaw is. may do some things in
rational way.
Mr.. Delmas took no part in the pro-
ceedings at all to-day. He did not so
near the criminal courts building One
of the Thaw lawyers said that he was
In his office preparing his summing up
Evidently Mr.. Deimas had received an in
timatiOn that he might be called upon to
make his summing up tomorrow. If that
Is done, District Attorney Jerome viii
sum up on Friday and it is probable that
Justice Fitzgerald viii charge the jury
on Saturday
Evelyn ThaN Present.
There was a brief open session of the
commission early In the morning, during
which one doctor said Thaw had deIusions
and another declared he was rational As
usual. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw was on hand.
this time wearing her blue gown. During
the rest of the day while the commission
was in secret session, she sat outside the
court room. She was very amiable. and
took lively interest in all that was
going on. This session ended the exami- |
nation of witnesses.
There was some speculation as TO |
whether any more witnesses viii be called !
at the trial, should it go on tomorrow. |
1t was said that at the beginning of the /
lunaey commissions investigation the !
question came up as TO what effect GER /
tain testimony might have at the trial /
II was then agreed hV bofh sfdac fhof 4