The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-31
Remains Cool and Collected
Under Cross Fire Before
Lunacy Commission.
JEROME SEEMS VEXED AT
SHOWING PRISONER MAKES
Prosecution Fails in Every Ef-
fort to Bring Up Past Life
of Defendant.

NEW YORK, March 30.-The plans
of the Thaw Lunacy commission to
complete its work today and TO submit
a report to Justice Fitzgerald Monday
morning rs 90 the present mental con-
dltion Of the slayer Of Stanford White,
were upset late this afternoon by an
appeal from District Attorney Jerome
to be allowed to produce more wit
ncsscs before the commission reaches
decision. After an all-day session the
commission adjourned until next Tues
day morning, AT which time it will hear
experts offered by the District At
torney Chairman Mcclure served
notice, however, that the witnesses VIII
be compelled to confine themselves TO
facts and opinions which deal with the
present condition fThaw, and will
not be allowed to go into details ofthe
past or future.
Cannot Probe Past Life.
Tbaw was under direct examination
by The commissioners for more than
ttree hours today, and then for forty
Eve minutes he was under the fire OF
District Attorney Jerome on cross-ex-
animation. This cross examinat ton was
allowed by the commission only after
vehement protest from the prosecuting
OFFICER that he had not been allowed
sufficient latitude in the inquiry. En-
loying hls first opportunity Of question.
ing the defendant. Mr. Jerome attempt.
ed to go into Thaw's past life. but OBJ
lections TO this limo Of examination by
IhaW s counsel was sustained by the
commission, and held the District At
torney TO the direct issue before the
lu acyboard-whether Thaw is capable
of understanding the character of the
proceedings against him and of ration
ally advising his counsel.
Thaw S direct and cross.examina-tion
today were held behind closed doors,
and the commission look extraordin,
ary precautions 20 have the hearing
kept secret. The attorneys connected
with the prosecution were cautioned
not to discuss the case in any way.
When Tbaw 6 ordead was ended the
doors were thrown open and it was an
nounced that the executive were Mt
an end AS soon as the session be-
came public Mr.. Jerome called Or.
Allan McLane Hamilton to the stand.
Jerome Grows Vehement
District Attorney Jerome took but
desultorv interest in the proceedings
hh'i' ~ oESlDeu JudJ J0t COMMISSION
was about to close it's inquiry Then
he jumped to his feet. protested that
he had been hampered in the lunacy
proceedings by the commission barring
out pertinent testimony, declared the
commission had refused TO ''ilIumi-
nate its intelligence from docu~
mentnry evidence which he had pre-,
sented, and had neglected TO hear ex::
pert testimony. Mr.. Jerome asserted
with some feeling that if he were al
lowed the proper latitude he could
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
Thaw is insane today and incapable
of advising counsel in a rational man
ner.. Chairman Mcclure told Mr.
Jerome that if he could produce an
expert who could give competent
opinion as 10 Thaw's present state of
mind the commission would hear them
next Tuesday morning.
THAT is all | desire said the Dis
trict Attorney.
When the public session began Mr..
Jerome seemed irritable and was con
stantiy thereafter involved in wordy
clashes with members OF the commits.
sion HIS manner of urging that ha
had right to adduce additional test-
mony before the commission rendering
its verdict was generally regarded as
concession that Thaw had hame Il
favorable impression during his long
examination. During the District At
torney S cross examination 1T was said
Thaw comported himself creditibly and
answered Mr.. Jerome's S sharp. pointed
questions with calmness and delibera-
fiou. Thaw appeared jubilant when tha
public was allowed to enter the court
room. To a reported who leaned over
and congratulated him on the showing
he had made, Thaw replied:
Wanted it Kept Secret.
"Thank YOU very much, but
thought that was 10 be kept secret
Thaw S attorneys expressed them-
selves as entirely satisfied with tho
final stages of their client 5 severe eX-
animation Altogether he was on tho
stand about six hours, counting Thurs
days session of the commission.
Mr.. Jerome s cross.examination, ono
attorney declared, did not shake Thaw
in the least. Mr.. Jerome declined IN
discuss the hearings. lie seemed much
disappointed at the ruling which shut
out DR.. Hamilton S testimony, the ply.
sician already having gone on record
as saying that Thaw is pananciac,
with but slight chance of recovery.
During the public session the commits
sion examined four prison guards
one of them Thaw's personal warden
in the courtroom-and visiting pbysl-
clan To the Tombs. All declared that
Tbaw had acted nationally ever since
his incarceration. One SAID that Thaw
had haunted look in his eyes when
he first came to the Tombs, but II be-
gan to disappear last September
Attorneys Delmas and Hartridge al
so took the stand They declared that
Thaw had fully compreheuded this
phase of the trial. and had made help
ful suggestions from time TO time, Dis
trict Attorney Jerome asked Mr.. Hart
ridge il Thaw had not repeatedly eX,
pressed dedc toichcja. .6fthbutETEE
,,rnesod ~ dosirn IN 111rnsS The ,ourt