Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-04
STORM IN HIS BRAIN
An Experts Idea of Why ThaW
Killed White.
INSANE FOR THE MOMENT
Thought That He Was Saving His
Wife's Life.
JEROME HARD AFTER WITNESS
Prosecuting Officer Probes DR.. Evans
| Motive Of Insanity Deeply
Defendant Indifferent.
JEROME HARD AFTER WITNESS

| NEW YORK, Marach 4.-District Attor-
ney Jerome today concluded his long cross
examination of DIR. Britton d. Evans, the
| alienist for the defense in the Thaw trial
who has declared that Harry X. Thaw was
suffering from brain storm at the time he
shot and killed Stanford White. DR.. Evans
was succeeded on the stand by DR.. Charles
G. Wagner of Binghamton, N. Y. also an
| alienist for the defense and his cross-ex-
animation was begun.
| Mr.. Jerome drew important admissions
| from DIR. Evans today to the effect that
Thaw had knowledge of what he was doing
| the night of the tragedy. The witness, how
| ever characterized it as insane knowledge.
Mr.. Jerome piled question after question
predicated upon Thaw's actions subsequent
to the shooting and asked If they did not
indicate that the defendant knew what he
was about. DR.. Evans explained that he
believed that the brain storm had cleared
up Immediately after the shooting and that
Thaw's- scattered senses had begun to re-
adjust themselves even before he left the
roof garden.
Two Forms.
DIR. Wagner used the present tense in
replying to question by the district at
torney as to the form of Thaw's insanity,
fering' from symptoms allied to two forms
of insanity-one tending to melancholia and
the other to dement,. Thaw's attorneys
made no move to correct the witness.
The formalities of postponlng the March
term of the criminal branch of the supreme
court had to be gone through this morning
before the trial of Harry K. Thaw was re-
sumed. Thaw's case was begun in the Jan
uary term and that term will be continued
until it is disposed Of
DR.. Britton D. Evans, the New Jersey
alienist, who was under cross-examinati ton
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last, was
again placed upon the witness stand as soon
as Thaw was called to the bar
Thaw again brought into court several big
brown portfolio envelopes filled with letters.
He receives several scores of missives daily.
some of the letters coming from across seas
and his Monday morning mail is always
heavy
Thaw engaged his lawyers in earnest con-
suitation when he took his place facing the
witness and the jury box. He directed his
remarks especially at Mr.. Peabody and Mr..
McPike. The latter seemed DESTROYS Of
avoiding the conversation and drew back
times wit toll
The defendant, however, was earnest and
would not be denied. He continued to talk
for some minutes. Then he sat back and
listened to the first questions addressed nv
District Attorney Jerome to Dr. Evans
1t was about the first time he had paid
the slightest attention to the witness since
he took the stand. Thaw did not listen
long, however, but turned to Daniel O.Rei,.
ly and began to talk rapidly to him. Thaw,s
lips could be seen moving very rapidlv 40
he whispered into O'Reilly's ear
Did He Know.
In resuming his cross examination of DIR.
Evans District Attorney Jerome asked:
Doctor, reverting to the night of the
shooting of Stanford White does the fact
that the defendant walked delibera telv
away without excitement after the shoot
Ing appear to you to be an important fact
in determining whether or not the defend.
ant was insane?"
Yes, it leads me to believe he was of
unsound mind-that is, when taken in con-
nectlon with the other incidents. The fact
that at that time Thaw's step was slow
and measured and his manner somewhat
dramatic, and that he manifested no aeita
ton, that he walked deliberately away.
without any effort to escape, taken in con-
nection with the other facts, indicated to
the witness, that he didn't know he had
done anything wrong, didn't know he had
done anything that should make him shrink
from his fellowmen or from the officers of
the law
with his deed?'
Il would hardly go as far as that"
When he walked toward his wife did he
know in which direction he was going?'
Signs of Insanity.
I'm view of the fact that he walked to-
ward his wife it seems to me that he did"
THE fact" said Mr.. Jerome, that Thaw
told the fireman who seized him He ruined
my wife does not indicate to you this
defendant knew he had killed Stanford
White?"
1T indicates to me-" replied Dr. Evans,
that this one thought which had weighed
down upon him-which had been devouring
his soul-was still with him. This idea of
8a8o866A IA