Evening journal., 1907-03-04
ASYLUM CELL
FOR HARRY THAW
Ample Evidence That Whites
Murderer is Insane
Now
DELMAS SEES THE DANGER

rhaws own financial adviser has UNI
witungly placed in District Attorney
Jerome's possession what the prosecu-
tion believes will be the best possible
proof OF insanity when the time comes
f5r the application for a commission
in lunacy for Thaw IN Harry Thaws
resent letters 10 Banker Lyon OF
Pittsburg. he makes allegation OF a
rlot among the New York newspapers
10 manufacture evidence against him.
VITA circumstantiai detail ana
wealth Of imaginary elaboration, Ihaw
has described the workings OF the con-
aplracy.
lTe charges that a certain reporter
whose name he must have heard casu-
Ally about the Tombs. is at the head
Of the propaganda. Under the leader
ehip of this man, so Thaw proclaims
the whole local press has been enrolled
into an organization hostile TO him.
He repeatedly dwells upon this vagarY
which he apparently believes In with
an the strength Of his disordered mind.
The fact that Thaw's lawyers have
renewed their pledges to their erratc
client and TO his family that they will
try TO save him from the madhouse, as
well as the death chair, Is not checking
the District Attorneys Office in its
present plan Of breaking on the great
trial and landing Stanford Whites
slayer in the Mattewan Asylum for
the Criminal Insane.
No Hope Of Death Verdict
1t is known that Mr. Jerome has no
hope whatever OF convicting Harry
Tnaw of murder. His course Of con-
duct I'm the trial FOR the last 10 days
shows what he thinks. His remarks
out OF court show the same thing. He
feels reasonably certain that. In any
event Harry Thaw viii so from the
Tombs 10 an asylum hat II he should
FIRST be acquitted Of the crime charges
against him his family would have the
right 70 elect where he should be sent.
They would undoubtedly choose some
private institution. from which his re-
lease in the course OF time would be
a comparatively easy thing.
on the other hand. II the trial should
be halted before the issue goes to the
Jury Thaw could be ordered TO a state
asylum as q state prisoner still under
Indictment. and if ever he should be
pronounced cured the prosecutor could
bring him back 20 New York county
and try him an over again for killing
White.
II was learned today that within the
last ~ hours Mr., jerome got this most
powerful weapon 10 be used IN the pro-
spective fight for the lunacy commits
sion. and he expects to turn Harry
Thaw's own written words against him.
Two weeks ago, when Baker Lyon.
Of Pittsburg, testified for the defense
he promised 70 send to court for the
use Of both sides any letters which
Harry Thaw might have written 20
him. Through a misrepresentation he
nrst forwarded only such letters as
he had from Thaw prior TO the date
Of the murder subsequently tho error
was corrected, ard Mr.. Lyon mailed 10
Court Clerk Penny a sheaf OF letters
which Thaw had written TO him from
the Tomhs after June 26. What Mr..
Jerome found in these letters has
pleased and astonlshed him beyond
measure,
Twenty-one Epistles.
jerome As convinced that examina-
ton OF sections OF these letters will
satisfy any commission in lunacy that
Thaw was assuredly insane after the
murder-in fact. that he was mad as
a March hare up until three or four
weeks before Justice Fitzgerald called
tho case for trial
IN the present aspect OF the case
these letters can probably be made
available for evidence to convict Thaw
OF murder. But Mr.. Jerome holds that
Sc would be entirely proper TO submit
them 10 a lunacy commission.
on Saturday, In fear that Jerome win
make his move early this week with
out giving them due warning the law
yers for the defense took time by the
forclock. Zach o. them made an affi-
davit testifying that Thaw is now
mentally competent TO confer with his
counsel regarding the preparation and
>tral OF his case.
Those who have talked with Mr.
Jerome have got a firm impression
that he believes. on what he knows
NOW. without having had tho chance of
having his experts examine him, that
Thaw Is insane. Mr.. Jerome fixes this
belief on several things. some OF which
have not become public during tho
trial. The most Interesting collection
Of papers which Mr.. Jerome has re-
ceived is the q letters written by
Thaw TO Lyon. several OF which were
written during the trial. From what
has been learned in this city and from
Pittsburg about the letters. IL would
seem that they were not written by
man in the possession Of all his
mental faculties.
Thaw's Erratc Conduct.
II the asylum is his fate. Thaw win
have no one TO blame as much as HIM
self. His ~crazy" action IN giving out
a statement attacking jerome on
Thursday evening may play a promi-
nent part IN railroading him to Mat
teawan n a commission In lunacy Is
ever appointed. And Thaw's own ex-
perts may also play part unwillingly,
OF course. 70 send him TO Matteawan.
Dr. Evans, on his direct examination.
elaborated In detail as some OF Thaw s
symptoms Of insanity the delusions OF
persecution and an exaggerated idea
bis statment Thaw described his pro-
fecution as being conducted by black
legs and nanifestly displayed an idea
pf great personal Importance. It IS
expected Jerome Will not be slow, II
be finally decides a commission Is ne
rfssary. 10 take advantage OF the op-
tortunity 10 show that II a delusion Of
persecution and an exaggerated idea
p his oUn Importance were symptoms