Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-04-04
Belief General That The Lunacy
Commission will Report That
He is Sane.
he PASSES THROUGH ORDEAL WELL
Commissioners Cordially Shake Him
by the Hand at the Conclusion and
He and His Counsel Confident That
the Trial viii be Resumed roday-
Jerome is Non-commit.aI.
tltv AssocInted rress !

NV Associated rressN
NEW YORK, April 13.-Tomurrow
brings another critical stage in the
case OF Harry X. Thaw, when the
slayer OF Stanford White will either
De officially proclaimed insane and
ordered sent away to state asylum
Or his trial will be resumed before
justice Fitzgerald upon the finding
vi me ltinacy commission whether the
nelendant is at the present time in
capable OF understanding his position.
OF approaching the nature of the
Sihrses against him and of nationally
haVislng with his counsel. The com
mission completed its work tonight
ana VIII be ready to report to Justice
fitzgerald tomorrow morning.
Thaw underwent a private mental
ana physical examination for more
IMAM two hours this afternoon In
thls last crucial test he was entirely
alone before the commission, even the
district attorney and the members of
MS own counsel being barred.
Wnen the three members of the
commission-David Mcclure, Peter B.
Olney and Doctor Leopold Putzel-
mad completed their final examina-
tion, they shook hands with Thaw In
most cordial manner. He went
back to his cell in the Tombs with,
q light heart anu devfureu IateI4-.
his counsel that he felt the commits
sion would surely declare him sane
tomorrow. The attorneys shared their
clients optimistic view of the situa-
ton. District Attorney Jerome would
not commit himself in anyway.
Thaws counsel declared they were
ready to proceed with the case to-
morrow and believed that Mr.. Delmas
might begin his summing up address
before noon. In that event, they said.
Mr.. Jerome would address the jury
on Friday and verdict might be eX-
pocted before the week ends.
There is little or no likelihood that
the report of the commission which
has inquired in Thaw's present men
tai state will ever be made public.
If the decision favors Thaw, Justice
Fitzgerald will merely order the trial
to proceed without any reference
whatsoever to the interruption which
began two weeks ago.
Should the decision be against
Thaw, Justice Fitzgerald would have
to quote briefly from the formal find.
ings of the commission committing
the young man to an asylum. When
committed, Thaw would have to re
main in the asylum until declared
sane by the superintendent of the in
sttution. Then he would be brought
back to this city and tried again.
Two AIienists Testify.
The last public session of the com
mission was held this morning tc
hear the testimony of two more alien
lists, Doctor Alan Rose Diffendorfel
of Middletown, Conn, for the prose
cution, and Doctor Charles G.. Wag
ner, of Binghamton, N. Y, for the de
fense. Doctor Diffendorfer gave 6
purely academic decision based upOr
assumed facts and writings of the
defendant and declared Thaw was in
competent. Doctor Wagner said he
has talked with the prisoner almos
daily for nearly two months and hat
been unable to find anything upol
which to predicate an opinion O
mental unsoundness at this time. H,
was not willing to go on record, how
ever, as specifically declared Thap
TO be in every sense sane man. HI
said he had not sufficient facts befor,
him, or sufficient time, in which t,
reach so positive conclusion. Dr.
Wagner repeated many Of his NOR
recent conversations with Thaw an,
gave the defendants idea Of his pres
ent predicament. He declared tina
he realized his position to be seri
GUS one. He thought, however, tina
his attorneys had made such goot
Roadway in the trial that he was ii
a much better position than when i
began. He said he had no delusiol
now that his act was an act of Prov
idence.
Examination of ThaW.
When the commission began 1T
private examination of the defendan
the members questioned him particu
larly about this delusion and other
from which it has been testified h
was suffering at the time he shot ant
killed Stanford White. DR.. Putzel, o
the commission, conducted the brie
physical examination to which Thay
was subjected, He was given all o
the standard tests Of the reflexes, tn
pupils Of the eyes, the Romberg ties
for evidence of locomotor ataxia, etc
Thaw Is said to have undergone al