Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-06
MRS. Nk|. THAN
CALLED 70 STAND
Mother Of Defendant Begins
Testimony in Behalf Of
Her Son
r, ~
uERoME RAps DR.. WAGNER
Accuses Alisnis. Of "Reasoning in a
circIe"-Expert Testimony Drives
Crowds from Court Room-Pusilist
Nelson Among the spectators-Jer-
ONE Adopts New Tactics.

New York, March 6.-The way was
cleared this morning for the taking OF
testimony OF Mrs. William Thaw at the
trial OF her son, Harry K. Thaw, for
the. murder of Stanford White. District
Attorney Jerome concluded his long
cross examination Of DR.. Charles G.
Wagner OF BinghaInpton, n. Y, one of
the alienists for the defense, and after
= few questions on redirect and re-
cross examination, the expert was fin
] ally excused just before the luncheon
recess was ordered. Thaw's counsel
then stated the defendants mother
would be called at the afternoon ses-
sion.
Jerome today took a new tack in the
cross examination of DR.. Wagner and
asked II, in acts surrounding the kill
ing OF Stanford White. there was any
thing to enable witness to differentiate
between insanity and intoxication.
Wagner declared there was nothing
whatever to indicate intoxication, but
much 70 indicate insanity. Wagner
further testified today that Thaw was
OF unsound mind when he married, but
had sufficient intelligence to know
what he was doing.
New York, March 8. Battling"
Nelson, the pugilist, today was the
center OF attraction in the court room
where Harry K Thaw is on trial for
life, occupying the entire. attention OF
the spectators up to the time defend
ant was called to the bar. Nelson.
was accompanied by his manager, Will
liam Nolan. They. occupied seats just
behind the prisoner.
In anticipation of the continuance of
expert testimony, there were many
empty seats in the court room. DR..
Charles G. Wagner. of Binghampton,
was again called to the stand. Jerome
began to ply him with questions re-.
Wagner said he believed that
Thaw's mind was clouded when he
signed the will, and also when he mar
ried. Thaw might have understood
what he was doing, but did not appre-
ciate his acts as a sane man would.
The witness said it was possible
that Thaw's gnind wasecIear at certain
periods between 1903 AMI 1905.
Wagner was asked by jerome il he
could say from the description Of the
killing Of White. whether Thaw was
insane or simply intoxicated. The alien
list replied that there was nothing
whatever to indicate int,xication, but
much to indicate insanity, Jerome
asked:
Did you know the disease known as
circular insanity 2"
sYes."
SIS reasoning in q circle sign Of
; circular insanity 2"
IT don't know what you mean by
reasoning in a circle
"The kind of reasoning you have
been doing"
Delmas objected and asked that the
remarks be stricken out, accusing the
district attorney of making the infer
ence that the witness was a victim OF
circular insanity Jerome settled the
matter by withdrawing The remark.
Jerome finally concluded his cross
examination of Wagner at 12:43.
Mrs. Thaw, Senior, Breaks Down.
II Mrs. William Thaw was the first
witness called after recess. She said
she noticed change in her son when
he came to Pittsburg in 1903. He was
absent minded and apparently had lost
interest in life. Mrs. Thaw broke down
and cried while narrating the change
in her son following the trip to Europe
with Evelyn in 1903 In explaining his
changed condition to her, Mrs. Thaw
said Harry told her "the Wickedest man
in New York had ruined his life"
Mrs. Thaw, after. recovering from her
first breakdown, seemed about to cry
again and could not proceed. Justice
Fitzgerald relieved the situation by or
,dering all her testimony up to that
time read to the jury. It had been
given in a voice too low for the jury
to hear.
jerome Raises insanity Point.
Mrs. Thaw told OF Harry breaking
down in church, while with her in
Pittsburg, saying awful things had
come over him and If it had not hap
pened Evelyn might have been with
them. witness says the impression Of
the change in Harry grew on her. She
said his room was next to hers. Often
in the night she heard snlothered sobs
from Harry and frequently found him
sitting IN at 8 or 4 O'Clock in the morn
ing.
In arguing an objection by Jerome,
Delmas said he would invoke the rule
of law that Thaw, being insane in
1903. continued insane in 1904.
..If that presumption is sound, SAID
Jerome, there is no reason to believe
defendant is not insane today. and /
becomes the duty of the court to sus-
pend the trial.
jerome said he was not suggesting