Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-12

Persons thus afflicted are known as
having predisposition to mental un-
soundness, as the result of heredity.
Another form of insanity indicated"
said the witness, "is known as par
anoiad, or fixed insanity on some sub
| ject. The third is naniacal, where the
patient jumps from one idea to an
other. These forms and others are
characterized by exaggerated ego. Both
adolescent insanity and paranoiad in
sanity are characterized by delusions as
to self-importance and exaggerated
ego. In adolescent insanity, the pa
tient exhibits no marked symptoms.
| But when stress comes, the man does
not break down as an ordinary or nor
/ NAL man would. There is a complete
loss of mental balance, an explosive
condition of the brain, reason becomes
dethroned, the will power is lost, and
| the balance wheel of the brain Is gone.
The acts of such a man are not the
acts of normal man, but show him
to be guided by disease and stress. His
lmind has left it's moorings and yielded
to diseased conditions. On my first
visit Thaw showed a condition of alb
| normal excitement-a diseased condi-
ton of the brain.
"On my second visit on August 49,"
! said Evans, Il observed that Thaw was
still nervous, agitated and had the PEE
culiar expression of the eye familiar
i with mental diseases. I also observed
his suspicion of me and all around him.
He still exhibited exaggerated ego, and
seemed disposed to tell me what to do
as an examiner, rather than to follow
directions. He still exhibited delusions
! of persecution, and condition of re-
volt against these fancied prosecutions.
because they were unfair Unlike mel
tancholy, in this variety of mental dis
ease. there is condition of exalta-
, ton"
Evans next described his third visit
to Thaw. on September 10.
"Thaw exhibited delusions of suspic-
ion, a lack Of confidence in his advisers
and the explosiveness of his mental
makeup was characteristic Of a per-
son Of unsound mind. There were no
halluclnations. Thaw dismissed his
physicians and had an argument with
his counsel which shall not narrate.''
Evans explained the difference be-
tween hallucinations and delusions. de-
termining the latter as "misinterpreted
realities"
Lawyers Wrangle.
Here ensued a long argument be-
tween Delmas and Jerome over the adj
nlissility of conversations between
! Thaw and the alienists, the former cit
Ing several authorities in support OF his
contention. Thaw took much interest
in this argument. While Evans was
itestifying the prisoner scarcely looked
at the witness. He read several letters
and took copious notes on the testi-
mony.
Finally, after much wrangling, Jer-
ONE allowed the following questions to
be pat te. the witness.
Were the oral statements made by
Thaw material information in your
opinion, as to his mental condition ?"
"Yes."
Were the conversations necessary
to enable an expert to form correct
judgment as to this defendants mental
condition.
"They were not entirely necessary"
replied Evans, but were highly inn
portant."
Nov, what was it Thaw said?"
Jerome objected, on the ground that
the matter involved the unsworn state
ment of defendant, who is not shown
to have been Of unsound mind
II repeat" said Jerome, "that I have
no objection to this expert stating
whether or not Thaw was insane at
the time of these examinations. If
the doctors say that Thaw was insane,
then the conversations can come out" !"
Fitzgerald again sustained the dis
trict attorney, and the defense noted
an exception.
II will now ask you, DOCTOR" con-
tinued Delmas "if as result of your
opinion as to this mans mental state
at the time Of your visits?''
Evans then went on to describe the
subsequent visits, and said that Thaw
was much more composed, and quieter
in every respect, on these occasions.
Evans resumed the stand after re-
cess. He said that as a result of his
first three visits, he reached the opin-
ion that Thaw was of unsound mind.
Brain Was Excited.
AS a result of the last five visits
Evans said he reached the opinion that
Thaw's mental condition, while still
impaired, was improved over the first
visit.
"was that improvement stationary or
gradual?"
"In my opinion it was gradual"
"What, in your opinion, was the con-
dition Of his mind a result or sequel
OFF"
II am of the opinion he was suffering
from a positive disorder or derange-
ment of mind as result of a heredi-
tary predisposition, but that there Eere
additional exciting causes in the order
Of stress, strain, and ordeals of mind
which formed the brain storm or men,
tai explosion which left traces behind" {"
Evans was here handed letters writ
ten by Thaw heretofore introduced in
evidence and began their persual,
which were later to form one Of the
bases of the hypothetical question.
A recess of forty minutes was Or
dered at $40, to give Evans an oppor-
tunity to finish reading the letters.
MOVING TROOPS TO FRONTIER.
No Fighting Vet Reported Between
Honduras and Nicaragua.
Panama, Feb. 12.-Advices from San
Salvador say that both Honduras and
Nicaragua are moving troopers to the
frontier Honduras has force of 49,