The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-05
DEFENSE BEGINS.
An Alienist From Pittsburg the
First Witness.
Testifies That in His Opinion
ThaW Was Insane
When He Shot Stanford White
I'm June Last Year.
HE RELIES ON WOMEN.
Thaw Bases Hope OF Acquittal7
on the Testimony
To Be Given in Court by His
Wife and Mother.
TO PROVE INSANITY.
The Elder Woman Will Reveal
Family History.
The Younger Is Expected to
Tell a Startling Story.
ThaW Bases Hope OF Acquittar
on the Testimony
To Be Given in Court by His
Wife and Mother.
TO PROVE INSANITY.
The Elder Woman Will Reveal
Family History.
The Younger Is Expected to
Tell Startling Story.

New York. Feb 5.-The defense of
Harry K Thaw. charged with the
murder of Stanford White was begun
today. when Dr. g c. Wiley. an alien
ist from Pittsburg. took the stald and
testified that in his opinion Thaw was
insane on the night of the Madison
Square roof garden tragedy. He based
this opinion on the mans actions on
the roof garden and the fact that he
had Witnessed an act by Thaw in q
Pirrsburg street car which impressed
him with the belief that the young
man was not of sound mentality
District Attorney Jerome put the
witness through the most severe cross
examination ever heard in New York
court room The prosecuting attorney
seemed TO have every medical auth ORR
" at his finger tips The care with
which he had prepared to meet Thaw's
plea Of insanity was evident in his
every question and at times the wit
ness hes1tated in his answers as if
completely bamed-
Dr. Wiley was still under fire when
the luncheon was ordered
Are YOU nearly through - inquired
tOruey.
NO, indeed. your honor replied
ested in the subject
Testimony in Defense.
New York, Feb 5--ExpeFts on in
sanity and IN handwriting. witnesses
and jurors came to the Thaw trial to-
day muff7ed in great coats and furS q.
storm which began last night con
Ji1uing with unabated fury today
The order for the exclusion OF all
witnesses which on yesterday drove
Mrs Harry Thaw and Mrs William
Thaw from the court room remained
in force today with The result that the
second row of four chairs Just back
OF the prisoner. which heretofore have
been reserved for his family. had been
turned over TO those whose business
gave them the privilege Of attending
the trial
Josiah ThaW was the only member
of the DEFENDANTS family in court as
the morning session began.
Harry ThaW on entering seemed to
miss the smile OF welcome which each
morning previously his wife had be-
slowed upon him
District Attorney Jerome was late
in arriving and the opening of the ses-
sion was delayed 10 minutes.
Dr. c 9. Wiley of Pfrtsburg the
Thaws family physician. and who is
connected with the Dixmout insane
asylum, was called as the first witness
for the defense.
Dr. Wiley in response to questions
by Attorney Gleason. said he had de-
voted much OF his life 10 a study of
insanity and had served as an expert
in a large number Of cases
Dr. Wiley was asked to state his
recollection of an incident in 1905 in
which Harry K Thaw was concerned
In the summer of 1905. said the
witness I was a passenger on street
car of the Fifth avenue line in Pitts
burg. when Harry Thaw came fn-
Without any apparent reason. Thaw
rushed for one of the blinds to a win
dow drew up the blind. slammed it
a. r
more He had quarrel with the
conductor"
What was Thaws manner -
ct was defiant va que and his eyes
flashed from right TO left in this way"
CDR. Wiley Illustrated with his eyes).
"As an expert and from your personal
observation can you say whether his ac-
tioas we're rational or irratiouaI2''
Irrational
\ Hypothetical Question
Mr.. Gleason here formed a hypotheti-
cal question on which he outlined
ThaW'S act Of killing Stanford White on
coupled with it the Interrogation as to
whether the witness could express an
opinion of such an action committed by
the person he saw in the Pftts5urg
street car
The Hypothetical question in full
was as follows
Assuming. sir, that the man you
saw IN the street car last summer was
proved to you, as an expert. to have
attended a roof garden, on the day OF
June IS, 1905, the occasion OF the
opening Of a theatrical entertainment
which was largely attended, and that
on walking cut from the theater with
ais wife, near him and apparently in a
quiet and orderly manner that that
man should turn aside and fire three
shots from a revolver into a man who
was sitting at the table. and to whom
he did not speak; that this man then
held the pistol above his head and
walked quietly toward the elevator
that he gave u0 the pistol without re-
sistance and did not make any attempt
to escape. and that he said. He ruined
my wife and that Immediately there
after he said TO his wife: I have
probably saved your ufe;' I ask you
sir your honest judgment as an ex-
pert whether YOU are able TO give an
opinion touching on the sanity OF the
man who made that ausU er -
7 can said Dr. Wiley.
'4Wii you express that opinion -
II believe that that man
District Jerome objected.
you must not state belief" said