Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-04-04

New York, March 29.-Harry K
Thaw for two hours yesterday sub
mitted himself to running fire o
questions from the commissioners il
lunacy. The examination was con
Quoted behind closed doors and whe1
adjournment was taken until Satur
dap no one connected with the hear
ing before the commissioners would
discuss the details of the inquiry
Thaw went willingly and confidently
before his judges, and when the two
hours secret session was concluded
his attorneys appeared with smiling
faces and declared that they were
more than satisfied with the course Of
the proceedings. Jerome hurried away
from the criminal court building, de
clining absolutely to say one WORD
about the commissions work
The most important feature of the
days proceedings was the decision oil
the commission to limit the scope Oh
the inquiry to the exact language OF
the statute-to determine solemnly
the question as to whether or NOT
Thaw is able today to understand the
nature of the court proceedings
against him and is able to advise his
counsel in a rational manner. Jerome
announced to the commission that all
the legal experts he had employed In
the case had advised him that Thaw
is suffering from typical case OF
which recoveries are limited to two OF
three per cent He offered to adduce
testimony to support this statement
but the commission waived it aside
saying the purpose of the inquiry was
a very simple one and had to do not
with any classification of mental dis
eases, but with the prisoners present
state of mind as judged by laymen.
In laying down this decision the
commission confronted the district at
torney with the very position he has
maintained in putting Thaw on trial
for his life Jerome contends that
Thaw was suffering from paranoia on
the night of June 25 last, when he
shot and killed White, but he added
that paranoiacs often have knowledge
of what they are doing and that Thaw
knew the nature and quality of his act
in killing White and knew that the
act was wrong. Thus, while medical
experts may determine today that
Thaw is still suffering from paranoia
the question to which the commission
has decided to confine itself deals
solely with Thaw's knowledge as to
the proceedings against him and his
ability to advise his lawyers
Commission Acts Quickly.
The commission got under way with
a rush and plunged into the personal
examination of the defendant. Je.
rome protested at first that he was
not able to proceed, saying he would
like to have his medical advisers pres
ent during Thaw's examination. He
finally stated that he would have no
objection to the examination going
forward, providing he, was permitted
to reserve his cross-examination. The
commission forthwith settled the mat
ter OF the presence OF experts by ex-
Guiding them from the room along
with everyone else, except the defend.
ant and his counsel, the district at
torney and assistant district attorney,
Caravan. AS to cross-examination by
the district attorney, the commission
said the matter would be taken up
when it was reached. 1t is stated
that during most of the two hours
Thaw was before the commission
notes and letters which he has writ
ten to his counsel since the trial be
gan were under consideration. To put
Thaw thoroughly at ease, the commits
sioners addressed their questions to
him in a conversational tone, and In
casual manner, as though he we're In
conference with them, and asked him
from time to time to explain incidents
in the trial which had called forth
certain letters placed before the com
mission by Thaw's attorneys. 1t was
said that Thaw answered the ques
tons calmly and went into lengthy
explanations of some Of the notes ne
had addressed to Delmas while his
trial was in progress. These notes
and letters were made part OF the
af1idavit fled by Delmas with Justice
Fitzgerald when Thaw's counsel were
opposing the appointment Of com
mission.
\ Thaw's examination was not con
cluded and he win appear again be
fore the commission Saturday morn
ing. no session being scheduled for
today. Good Friday.