Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-01

| New York, March 3l.-The plan Of
the ThaW lunacy commission to COM
plctc its work Saturday and submit q
report to Justice Fitzgerald on Mon
| day morning as 10 the present mental
| condition of the slayer of Stanford
White was upset late Saturday after
noon by an appeal from District Attor-
ney Jerome to bc allowed 20 produce
| more witnesses before the commission
| reaches a decision. After an all-day
| session the commission adjourned until
next Tuesday morning at which time
1t Will hear experts offered by the dis
trict attorney. Chairman Mcclure
served notice. however, that the Wit
ncsses will be compelled to confinc
themselves to facts and opinions,
which deal with the present condition
of Thaw and will not be allowed II
go into details of the past or future.
animation by the commissioners for
more than three hours Saturday anu
then for 45 minutes, he was under ire
of Mr. jerome on crOSS-cxamination.
The CroSS-eXaminatiOn was allowed by
the commission only after q vehement
protest from the prosecuting officer
that he had not been allowed sufficient
latitude i'll the inquiry. Enjoying his
opportunity Of questioning the defcn-
dant, Mr.. Jerome attempted to go in
TO ThaW'S past life, but objections 10
this lire of examination by ThaW's
counsel we're Sustained Ivy the com
mission which held thc district ut-
to"ney to the direct issue before IN
lunaCy hoarel-Whcthcr Tn y is ta;lf-
bic today Of understanding the char
atter Of the proceedings against him
ana Of nationally advising his ccun-
sci
ThaW'S direct and roSs-cyamir.tion
were held behind closed doors ana the
commission took extraordinary precau-
tions to have the hearing kept secret.
When ThaW'S ordeal was ended the
doors were thrown open. Az soon rs
the session became public District At
torney Jerome called DR.. Allen Nc
Lane Hamilton to the stand The com
mission had summoned DIR. Hamilton
at the request OF the district attorney.
ThaW'S counsel pleaded the profess
Si"nal privilege in bar Of any testimony
I" be offered by him. DR. Hamilton
himself asked to he instructed on this
roint. Mr.. jerome claimed that the de-
defence by Introducing Or. Hamilton
as witness in the Thaw trial, had
waived the right Of privilege.
Tho commission held that as the
privilege had not been waived before it.
DR.. Hamilton could not testify as to his
personal examination Of Thaw
District Attorney Jerome took but a
desultory interest in nc proceedings
after this until it seemed that the COM
mission was about to close it's inquiry
| Then he jumped to his feet, protcs ted
| that he had been hampcrcd in the luna
oy proceedings by the commission bar
ring cut pertinent testimony: declared
the commission had refused to "ilu-
inmate its Intelligence" from docunlcn-
tary evidence which he had presented
and had declined to hear expert teSti-
mony. Mr.. Jerome asserted with some
feeling that if allowed the proper lati-
tude, he could prove beyond n reason
able doubt thar Thaw is insane today
and incapable of advising his counsel
in a rational manner.
After the district attorney had
spoken at some length Chairman Me-
| Clure told him that if he could produce
any experts who could give a compe-
| tent opinion as to Thaw's present state
| Of mind, tho commission would hear
| them next Tuesday morning.
"That is all 1 desire" said the dis
| trict attorney.
when the public session began Dis
| trict Attorney Jerome scmcd somewhat
| irritable and was constantly thereafter
| involved in wCrdy clashes with mem
! bers Of the commission. His urgent
manner of arguing that he had right
| to adduce additional testimony before
| the commission rendered its verdict
was generally regarded Is concession
! that Thaw had made a favorable i'm
| preston during his long examination.
| During the district attorneys cross-ex-
animation it was said Thaw conported
| himself most creditabIy and answered
Mr.. Jerome's sharp pointed questions
with calmness and elaboration. ThaW
appeared in jubilant spirits when the
public was allowed to enter the court
room where the commission was sitting.
Thaw's attorneys expressed them
selves as entirely satisfied with the
| final stages of their clients severe ex-
animation. Altogether he was on the