Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-03-07

THAw CREATES Big SENSATION
ACCUSES JEROME OF MAKING
UNPRoFEssIoNAL REMARKS
IN COURT.

NEW 1OrK, MarCn q. - interest IL
the Thaw trial yesterday centered in
the maneuvers Of District Attorney
Jerome, who seemed to give further
Indication Of his purpose to apply fol
commission in lunacy to report upon
the present mental condition Of the de
PENDANT. The witness stand for the
greater part of the day was occupied
by DR.. Britton D. Evans, director OF
the New Jersey hospital for the in
sane at Morris Plains, N. j., who was
up for cross-examination.
Will Call Howard Nesbit.
BY recalling Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw for a few questions which he
had omitted on his long cross-examina.
ton, Mr.. Jerome early yesterday indi
Gated that he would call Howard Mes
bit, her brother, to contradict her in {,
matter of credibility He asked Mrs.
Thaw if she had not told her brother
that Thaw had treated her cruelty
while abroad because she refused to
tell lies about Stanford White and say
he had drugged and mistreated her.
He also wanted to know if the brother
had not bought her pistol with which
she might defend herself against
Thaw. The defendants wife denied
that there was any truth in these
statements, and said she had never
owned or carried a pistol.
Mr.. Delmas announced yesterday
that the defense would conclude this
week.
Says Wife Told tho Truth.
New York, March O. Harry K.
ThaW enlivened an extremely dull
session Of his trial in the SUI
preme court yesterday by giving out
to the newspaper men a brief state
ment In which he accused District At
torney Jerome of having made unpro-
fessional remarks in court, asserted
that his wife's testimony was abso-
lutte truth, and in conclusion de-
clared that Mrs. Thaw's natural good
ness was above the comprehension
of the prosecuting officer.
Thaw's Statement,
This is Mr.. Thaw's second state
ment since Aug. 10: ..
With the chances millions to one
against her, after the catastrophe in
1901. it is wonderful that Mrs. H. K.
Thaw prevailed in the cross examina-
ton against the persecution backed by
blacklegs.
Her testimony was absolute truth
Our evidence was of conversations
The cross-examination has proved the
exact facts under oath.
Mr.. Jerome. finding his informants
in certain lines falsifiers, concluded
by more usual methods, which is to
his credit.
However. from some of his ques-
tions and some of his unprofessional
remarks in court, 1t appeared clearly
that the natural and real goodness OF
the witness is above his conprehen.
sion"
Was Insane at Time.
DR.. Britton D. Evans. the alienist
was in the witness chair all of yester
day, undergoing cross-examination at
the hands of District Attorney Jerome
DR.. Evans and Mr.. Jerome spent the
entire day in going over eight letters
written by Thaw and culling out OF
them excerpts on which DR.. Evans
based his expressed belief that they
were written by a person of unsounG
mind.
Judge Becomes Fatigued.
New York, March 3.-The insanit,
OF adolescence, paranoia and the char
a fn rfC&sn ~ IN, Str acD az
both sessions of the Thaw trial yester
day, and when adjournment until Mon
day morning was ordered DR.. B. D
Evans was still under cross-examina
ton.
To Ask for Commission.
The net result of the day appeared
to be that Mr.. Jerome is still laying
the foundation upon which he ma,
ask for a commission in lunacy t.
Judge of the present mental condition
of the defendant.
Justice Fitzgerald indicated his ia
tigue at the days cross-examinatio1
Ut the expert when Mr. Jerome bega1
to question DR.. Evans about his knowl
edge of other instances of adolescen
insanity which had resulted in acts o
homicide.
Mr.. Delmas objected to this line o
questioning.
But, your honor" argued Mr.. Je
rome, 1--WE are just getting to the poin
Of this thing"
We'll, we have been mighty lonl
time getting there" YEARLY remarked
the Justice.
Thaw Causes Sensation.
Thaw created another sensation il
court yesterday when he asked per
mission to absent himself from tn,
room. The request was granted, an,
when he got into the prisoners pei
Thaw threw off his hat, brought hi
heels together and began violently t,
go through five-minute drill at ''.set
ting up" exercises His guard locke,
on in amazemsnt. When he had fin
ished swinging his arms. Thaw an
nounced that he felt he had been com
PEELED to take the exercise. Mr.. JIG
rome was informed OF the defendant
conduct and made notes upon It