Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-30
Expected That Its Work viii be
Concluded in Time for q
report Monday.
DEFENDANTS LAWYER CONFIDENT
They Are Planning for a Resumption
of the Trial on Monday and If Such
Proves to be the Fact the Case
viii be Ended in About Four
Days.
fBy Associated Press.>


NEW YORK, March 29.-Thc
commission in lunacy which is en-
amining the present mental condition
of Harry K Thaw may finish its
work tomorrow and be ready to re-
port to Justice Fitzgerald by Mon
day.
The Thaw jury will report in
court once more at 1880 o'clock
Monday morning and it is the hope
of the presiding judge, as we'll as
the commission, that the matter of
the defendants sanity may be dispos-
ed Of by that time.
If the commission should submit
a report to the effect that Thaw fully
understands the nature OF the pro-
ceedings against him and has ration
ally advised with his counsel, Jus
ticc Fitzgerald will simply direct
mat the trial proceed without max
ing public tho commissions findings
Ii the report should be against
Thaw, Justice Fitzgerald Will an.
ncunce the same from the bench and
be dangerous to the public peace and
safety, he will sign an order direct.
ing tho confinement in some state
hospital for the insane, probably Mat.
tewan.
Today being Good Friday, there
was no session of the lunacy board
and Thaw spent a quiet day in the
Tombs preparing for a renewal OF
his mental test tomorrow morning at
1880 O'Clock. The session of the
commission ut that hour again will
be private and there will be no pub
lie hearings at all unless the com
mission decides to call witnesses
other than the defendant. 1t was re.
ported today TO be extremely unlike
ly that any witness will he examined.
hut there is just possibility that
several of the door keepers in the
Tombs may be called to give n Law
opinion rs to Thaw's conduct since
his confinement.
The district attorney, 1t was said
might make one more effort to in
troduce testimony before the COM
mission. hut If the board holds to the
narrow limits laid down for its in
curry on yesterday. Mr.. Jerome seems
doomed to disappointment
Commission is the Whole Thinq.
The commission yesterday indicat-
ed that 1t had reached the conclusion
That its members could decide from
their own examination of Thaw the
Simpie questions placed before them
bv Justice Fitzgerald. II was report
ed again today that neither Thaw's
cwn lawyers nor District ATTORNEY
Jerome would be allowed to question
Thaw or any other witness who NAV
be called upon to testify at the in.
curry. The commission apparently
mas also decided to keen It's records
clear OF any eXpert testimony. Chair
man David Mcclure practically told
the district attorney on Thursday
that the question as to whether
Thaw is capable Of approaching the
nature of the court proceedings
against him and of nationally advis-
ing his counsel, is a matter subject
wholly to lay opinion. Any medi-
cal opinion which the commission
may desire will como from Doctor
Leopold Pntzei. one of its members.
fhnw's Lawyers Confident.
Thaw's attorneys are so sanguine
as to- the outcome of the lunacy in
uniry that they were tcday mixing
'''''''' W. liz OI tho trial
next week. 1t seems now that II the
trial is taken up again the defense
nrohably will announce that IT rests
without further Testimony.
Doctor Allan McLane Hamilton,
the alienistawho examined Tbaw last
June and July, was on the stand
when thctrial was interrnpted. There
Is It'll" likelihood that Doctor Ham
ilton will Re recalled. IF Thaw Is
declared to he of sound mind TODAY
and inc trial is resumed. It should
moi last more than three or four
havs Tho ATTORNEYS in their sum.
ming nn addresses will not bo allow.
ed to refer in ANYWAY to the lunacv
commission. for it's apncintmont and
proceedings are not part of the trial
record
While tho trial was in progress. all
nf the aiienists who had examined,
Thaw and who were called to the
stand paid n tribute to the prisoners
remarkable memory. IT was this
memory. it was said, which served