Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-01
JEROME GETS LYON LETTERS.
All Written From the Tombs and
Bear Dates Subsequent to
June rs Last.
Expert Was Very Adroit and District
Attorney Foupd it Impossible
To Pin Him Down.

New lNTks MdICn l-~~ttlSl, 4Aliy.
Jerome's intention of applying for a
commission in lunacy TO examine Har-
ny X. Thaw seemed to be definitely es-
tabished today during the continuance
OF his cross examination of Dr. II. d.
Evans, the principal medical expert for
the defense. Or. Evans stated that he
believed Thaw to have been suffering
from adolcscent insanity in 1903 and
at the time OF his marriage, April 4,
1905. and that when he killed Stanford
White Juno 25, 1906, he WAS Tho Victim
Of ap acute and recurrent attack Of the
same malady. DR.. Evans vas more
definite in his answers today and was
induced to make these statements with
posltiveness.
In addition to tho explosions he
eaid ffcre were indications Of mental
instability at other times.
Mr.. Jerome during his cross exam
ination constantly referred to he sub
iect of para noia, but was unable to Sc
cure from the witness any admission
that would tend 10 show Thaw a para
rjoiac. By this line of questioning 1t
seemed probable that the prosecution
will attempt to show that. instead of
being afflicted with the insanity OF
adolescence. Thaw is actually para
noiac.
DR. Evans would not classify adde's
cent insanity as chronic in Thaw-s case
and said he had known cases of this
form OF mental unsonndness TO clear
up overnight.
When the Thaw trial opened this
morning Dist. Atty. jerome announced
that there had been received II
second packet OF letters from j.
ID. Lyon, the I'ittsburg banker. who
until November last had custody of
Thaw's will, The letters received today
were written 10 Mr.. Lyon by I'haw
while in the Tombs and all bear dates
subsequent to June 25 last. Mr.. Lyon
first sent on only letters written prior
to the roof vgsrdeD tragedy. MIR. Jerome
was very anxious 10 have the later let
tiers and they were sent ON by consent
OF Tliaw's attorneys. The letters are
held subject to the courts orders.
DIR. Britton ID. Evans was recalled as
soon as the letters from Pittsburg had
been examined by counsel, and Mr..
Jerome continued his cross examine
ton of the alienist.
Taking all the letters you have read
i'll the light OF all you know about the
case, what IS your opinion as TO the
mental condition of this defendant at
tlIlle ne WIOkt ltttciss NstS W.
Jerome's first question.
Mr.. Delmas objected OH the ground
that the question assumed that the, wit
ness had knowledge that was not In
evidence.
Mr.. Jerome Withdrew the question
and asked the witness II he had knowl-
edge of facts that have not been testi-
fled 10.
An argument was the result, Mr..
mil N
the case was whether the defendant was
insane when the homicide was commit
ted. He was anxious, he said, to bring
out all the facts.
DR.. Evans was allowed to answer and
said that so far as he could recall he
had told all of Importance that he could
remember of what he had heard and
seen upon the 1lrst three Vlslls 10 IhaW
in the Tomhs.
Taking everything that you have
testified into consideration what. In
your opinion, was the mental condition
OF the defendant when he wrote the
letters?" asked Jerome.
He was In a state OF mental insani-
ty."
do YOU mean he was insane2'
mot necessarily. He was IN a state
of mental unsteadiness-
THAw TO CoMsToCK.
Mr.. Jerome handed the witness let
ter Thaw wrote TO Anthony Comstock
maintained by stanford white and 9th.
or rich scoundrels for the ruin OF young
girls.
After Dr. Evans had examined the
paper some 20 minutes, Jerome asked
him II anything In the letter suggested
The mental condition OF the writer,
1t shows that his mind seemed to be
running upon young women and their
supposed wrongs"
Anything else?"
1T indicates a delusive state in the
writer's mind
Were the delusions OF an exalted or
depressed nature?"
II don't think there Is enough IN the
letter for anybody to say as to that
DR., Evans attention was called to
Thaw's will and codioil aud he stated
that the ideas and deluslons indicated
In those documents were different from
the ones indicated IN the letters.
Are not the ideas or delusion shown
In the will and oodicil more concentrate
ed than In tile letters?" asked Mr.. Je-
rome.
49,. 40. "a.