Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-14

DR.. EVANS GIVES An OPINION
The Expert Declared Thaw's Mind 10
b Like q ship Without Rudder
HIs Condition After Tragedy
And Again Later.

serious clash between counsel In the
Harry X. Thaw trial. l,he Califor
mia attorney. who Is directing the do
fence, took exceptions to certain state.
nents Of the prosecuting officer and
had inserted in the record Of the case
a protest against the misconduct OF
the learned district attorney"
MI. Jerome hotly accused Mr.. Del
mas Of trying to instill into tho
minds of the Jury the implied surg
Testion that the operation performed
ON Evelyn Nesbit In 1908 before Thaw
took her to Europe. was ''of crimL
nal nature" when "as matter o.
fact" he said. 1T was for appended
tis."
Mr.. Delmas called the attention Of
Justice Fitzgerald to this saying, that
the district attorney was stating tncts
not in evidence and that very ser
Aus exception must be taken to MIA
remarks"
"Send the Jury out Of the room h
you want to- exclaimed Mr.. jerome
shut am going to get this thins
straight am not going to have these
false Impressions fostered before this
jury."
DR.. Britton D. Evans, superinten-
dent Of the state hospital for the IN
sane at Morris Plains, N. j., was ten
flying at the time Of the disagree
ment. He had declared he was Of ths
opinion that Harry Thaw was insane
at the time Of the tragedy. He had
been called upon to answer q long
Hypothetical question in which refer
snCe had been made to "a serious II
MOI capital operation" on Miss Mes
BIZ, when the storm broke,
Mr.. Jerome seemed thoroughly
wrought up; Mr. Delmas did not for
an instant lose his calm demeanor.
hut he gave emphasis and force to hia
words new to his hearers. Mr.. Jer.
omit said he would withdraw objeo
tl0n to the term capital operation" n
Mr.. Delmas would give him the word |
Of counsel that they did not know the
nature OF the operation. Mr.. Delmal
gave his word that he did not know
~ its nature
but you may consult with couD
rel" suggested Mr.. Jerome.
Il do not care to do that" replied
Mr.. Delmas 1T Ia not essential"
"Ah, cried the district attorney in a
loud voice, then you do want to make
this insinuation7"
"The district attorney strangely for.
Gets his character and position when
he charges me with an attempt to de.
Ceive," retorted Mr.. Delmas, with
more feeling in his voice than a. any
cline during the trial. He must upon
elaboration see the injustice Of bis
implied dlscourtesy."
Il see injustice plainly" retortsd
Mr.. Jerome, 'but not In my remarks"
Justice Fitzgerald did not rule out
any Of the district attorneys remarks
before the jury and Mr.. Delmas took
care to have every exception be made '
@Fsriously noted" :
Mr.. Jerome won his point and the y
words serious II not capital" as de- a,
lining the operation were withdrawn p
By Mr. Delmas.
During the tilt Mr.. Delmas asked
ne district attorney how he learned
pl tho character Of the operation up ..
on Miss Nesblt without violation OF !,
confidence. Mr. Jerome said he had .
been told Of 1t by Miss NesbIt's moth. !,
=, Mrs. Holman Of Pittsburg. It thus :,
'ecapae known for the first time tina, !.
he district attorney is in possession =
4 long statement by Mrs Holman.
Or. Evans was by far the mos. n
satisfactory expert witness to the de. 4,
'nse 80 far produced. He detailed to n
he Jury his observations and exami- ~
atlons Of Harry Thaw during eight nj
i1iis 70 the prisoner in the I'ombs ana
eclhled Il to be his opinion that
naw was suffering from "a brain
TORN or an explosion Of Illuminating o,
''ndition Of mental unsoundness. Al =,
ae time he shot and killed White. :.
D. Evans gave many and elaborat, y
,qsons for his opinion and during his ~
nomination Mr.. Delmas deftly
Fought out the fact. whereas rhaw
A. fu'fering from storm and stress"
'een the alienist first visited him in =
uguni last hia condition had shown
'fady and gradual Improvement IN. ~
! on Oct 8. when Thaw was more 70
imposed and deliberate"
u. Evans declared that the mental
|ploalon induced Thaw to kIll stan
"a white had left its traces On me :
iendant when he first visited him ~
s so TAaw exhibited aymptons OF %.
Ianoia and eddlesoent INSANITY. 97ie We
t vas Indicated BY his exaltation. q
exaggerated ego" the--t1ea Of n
supreme Importance Tue Adde'S. on
NJ Insanity was due to herrdity and en-
.1araetsrislio % the Developments ~ ~,
Ipa q liie-from 10 to ~ yeas ~
A4N'1 mind. Or. Evans had siipsd -,
"aorlngl and eas Ike a ship with. -.
Inddg. ordeais Of stress had ~
t.c.r work @ TIE pyachopnthio
NAI1t came from hofedity. DR.. n