Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-19
JEROME IN FAVOR OF
LUNACY commission
DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILLING
TO HAVE THAW'S MENTAL
CONDITION EXAMINED.
LAWYERS FOR DEFENSE
WOULD FREE CLIENT
Prisoner Is Said to Prefer Sing Sing
or Electric Chair to Insane Asylum
Wife May Not Resume Her
Story.

Wife May Not Resume Her
Story.
New York, Feb. 16.-Close observers
of the Thaw trial, which has been
the death of a jurors wife, believe
the present trend of the trial, as shown
in the last two days, is toward a COM
mission in lunacy to determine official
ly Harry K. Thaw's condition of mind.
This belief is suggested by District
Attorney Jerome's apparent willing
ness to admit part of the will, by his
readiness to withhold technical objec-
tions to the testimony of Thaw's FAM
lily physicians tending to throw light
upon the defendants mental status
and by his policy Of yesterday in ad-
hitting without opposition the CONVEX
sation between Thaw and DR.. Evans
when the latter was examining the
prisoner in the Tombs.
Trial May End Next Week.
Counsel for Thaw have reached the
opinion that the trial may be termin-
ated abruptly any day next week from
this cause. So fully convinced are
they that Jerome will make this move
that they are planning to fight him on
with having declared that he would
not face the asylum in preference to
Sing Sing and the death chamber, so
it can be seen what feeling this ex-
pected move of Mr.. Jerome is creating
in the camp of the defense.
Defense Knows Jerome's Purpose.
One of Thaw's lawyers, in speaking
OF the probable plan for lunacy COM
mission, said: LAS the case has pro-
crossed from day to day we have be-
come more and more convinced by the
conduct of the district attorney and
his experts who are observing the
defendant for him that it has been
and is his purpose to load the case to
the point where he can apply properly
for commission in lunacy.
I've don't want the boy declared
insane. We want him acquitted" he
added.
Would Probe ThaW's Sanity.
The following statement as to Dis
trict Attorney Jerome's position with
regard to the sanity or insanity of
Harry K. Thaw was made Friday:
Mr.. Jerome does not know whether
or not Thaw is insane. None of his
assistants know. None of the experts
retained by the prosecution know.
These experts have not had an oppor-
tunity to examine Thaw either as to
his physical condition or his mental
caliber. They are present in court at
the trial with an open mind. They
would like to know.
If any experts retained for the de-
Tense, some of whom have already
testified, will say, authoritatively, that
in their own opinion Thaw is now in
sane, the district attorney will join
with them in the request to the court
for an appointment of commission in
lunacy to decide on the question of the
defendants sanity"
Expects Bolton to Stand Strain.
The resumption of the trial on Mon
day will depend on how Juror Joseph
B. Bolton, whose wife died Thursday
stands the ordeal put on him by this
affection. 1t was the general opinion
in court of men who had studied the
jurymen that Bolton, who appears to
be man of determination, will stand
the strain and that the trial will be
continued. DR.. Evans will then go on
the stand again and it is expected that
he will try to substantiate his opinion
that Thaw was insane in August by
giving Thaw's own words to him dur
ing three examinations. Following
this testimony from the defense's own
expert it is expected that District At
torney Jerome will be prepared tc
make his application to the court fol-
a commission in lunacy.
Evelyn Thaw May Not Testify.
If it should be made immediately
following the admittance of the testi
mony from DR.. Evans, Mrs. Evelyn
Thaw will not have to complete he,
story, nor will she have to face {
discrimination, which many have
predicted would be terrible ordea
for her.
Mr.. jerome, when questioned on tn,
subject OF the possible close OF tn,
trial by an application for a commits
sion, declined to discuss the matter il
any way.
DR.. Josiah Strong, president of the
American Institute for Social Service
said Friday that Harry K Thaw con
suited him more than two years age
about breaking up den of vice" il
this city which was protected by
wealthy and influential man. Thav
did not say where it was located bu
DR.. Strong said the young man toll
him such story that it made hi
blood boil" DR.. Strong added tina
he referred Thaw to Anthony Com
stock.
Pleads Guilty; Must be Tried.