Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-29

CONFIDENT OF rHE OUTCOME
Marrow Scope Of Investigation Under
the Law Does Not Ausur Well for
Success Of Jerome's Desire to Send
Thaw to Asylum for Criminal In
sane. &

New York, March 29.-After a half
hour interview with Harry K. Thaw to-
day Attorney Peabody said:
"Thaw is feeling splendidly and
seems thoroughly lit. He has recovered
from whatever nervousness he may
have had regarding the first session OF
the commission in lunacy and is now
ready and anxious for the inquiry to
proceed. He feels entirely confident
as to the outcome"
There was no session of the ThaW
commission today because of Good Fri
day. The most important feature OF
the proceedings so far was the decis-
ion of the commission to limit the scope
sof the inquiry to the exact language
of the statute-to demand solely the
question as to whether or not Thaw is
able today to understand the nature of
the court proceedings against him and
is able to advise his counsel in ra-
tional manner. Jerome announced TO
the commission that all the legal ex-
perts he had employed in the case had
advised him that Thaw is suffering
from typical case of paranoia-a dis
ease of the mind in which recoveries
are limited to or per cent. He Of
fered to adduce testimony to support
this statement, but the commission
waived it aside, saying the purpose OF
the inquiry was very simple one ana
had to do not with any classification OF
mental diseases, but with the prison
er's state OF mind as judged by lay
men.
In laying down this decision the com
mission confronted the district attor-
neys with the very. position he has
maintained in putting Thaw on trial
for his life. jerome contends Illaw
was suffering from paranoia on the
night of June 25 last, when he shot ana
killed White, but added that parano-
iacs often have knowledge of what they
are doing, and that Thaw knew the ma
ture and quality of his act in killing
White and knew the act was wrong
Thus while the medical experts may
determine today Thaw is still suffering
from paranoia, the question to which
the commission has decided to confine
itself deals solely with Thaw's knowl-
edge as to the proceedings against him
and his ability to advise his lawyers.
The commission got under way with
a rush yesterday afternoon and plunged
at once into a personal examination of
the defendant. Jerome protested at
first that he was not able to proceed
saving he would like to have his med
ical advisors present during Thaw's
examination.
He finally stated he would have no
objection to the examination going for
ward providing he was permitted to
reserve his cross examinations. The
commission forthwith settled the mat
ter Of the presence of experts by ex-
cluding them from the room along
with everyone else, except the defend
ant and his counsel, the district at
torney and Assistant District Attorney
Garvan. AS to the cross examination
by the district attorney the commits
sion said the matter will be taken up
when it was reached.
1t is. stated that during most of the
two hours when Thaw was before the
he has written to his counsel since the
trial began were under considerat tion.
To put Thaw thoroughly at ease, the
commissioners addressed their ques-
tions to him in Conversational tone,
and, in casual manner as tho he We're
In conference with him. asked him from
time to time to explain incidents in the
trial which had called forth certain
letters placed before the commission by
Tha WIS attorneys