The National tribune., 1907-03-28
the officials say the ordinance will be
carried out to the letter.

the officials say the ordinance will be
carried out to the letter.
Rather a dramatic scene occurred in
the Thaw trial last Wednesday, when
Jerome, altho not making direct ap-
plication for the appointment of a COM
mission in lunacy, appealed to the con-
science Of the court in an earnest, i'm
pressfve speech, in which he stated that
1t was the opinion of all who had
watched Thaw or come in contact with
him that he was now insane and not in
condition to intelligently take in the
proceedings of the trial or to advise his
counsel in any way. Seven experts have
declared on the stand that he is now
insane, and DR.. Hamilton, one of the
witnesses for the defense, when Ques-
toned by Gleason as to Thaw's present
mental condition, shortly replied that he
considered him incapable of instructing
his counsel, that he had so informed
them, and denied that he had ever told
Mr.. Gleason that Thaw might recover
his reason, but had said instead that
perhaps two per cent Of those suffering
from his particular form of insanity did
get well. All this was decidedly en-
barrassing and disconcerting to the de-
Tense, who, while Mr.. Gleason's ques-
tioning was going on, picked up their
papers and pointedly walked out or
court, leaving him alone with his awk-
ward fiasco. Gleason, however, put the
blame upon Delmas for this, saying
that if a commission was appointed on
the strength of what DIR. Hamilton had
said Delmas would be responsible, for
it was he who had called the former to
the stand. On Thursday Jerome pre-
sented eight affidavits supporting his
claim to the prisoners present condi-
ton of lunacy or insanity, and DR.. Nc
Donald in one Of these stated that In
his opinion it was reasonably certain
that Harry Thaw would never recover,
and If allowed to go free would be dan
gerous to the public peace and SAFETY.
On Friday morning, when court opened,
Thaw's family were out in full force,
his mother, wife and sisters not having
been present at the trial, since witnesses
were excluded. He himself appeared in
good spirits, altho on the day before,
during the Gleason episode, ne had
been greatly detected. Justice FftZger-
aid excused the jury till Wednesday of
this week, during which time he will
decide whether he will appoint the lun-
acy commission or not. 1t is impossible,
of course, to tell what is going on in
the minds Of the jury. If the case could
have been closed Immediately after the
testimony of Thaw's young wife 1t is
reasonable to suppose that he would
have been acquitted, but in the weeks
which have elapsed since the influence
Of this has largely disai oeared. The
medical experts for the defense say
Thaw was crazy when he shot White,
but is sane now. Those on the other
side say he is decidedly insane now.
Who shall decide when doctors dis
agree? The jury will have to, but how?
The Navy has resorted to a clever
scheme to fire the enthusiasm of young
men and draw them into the service.
A moving picture show now goes on In
the recruiting Offices, accompanied by
an interesting lecture by the recruiting
officer, the pictures showing the ma
neuvers of the ships in drill, and in
various other scenes of activity. There
are few things more calculated to fire
the heart and fancy of young man,
one with taste for life on
the bounding wave, than the sight OF
our beautiful war ships, and the Navy
will undoubtedly catch many Jack by
its moving picture show.
A lack of Chaplains in the Navy is
by the Rev. John Bancroft
Devins, who says that we have no more
than we had since the civil war, and
yet our Navy has increased threefoid.
The Rev. Mr.. Deyins belongs to theI
General Assembly Com
mittee, which Is working specially for
soldiers and seamen. He says that
when he was in China few years ago.
the American fleet, then In Chefoo har-
Dor, did not have a single Chaplain
among them. We hear much about the
out Of Job who. have been
obliged to abandon their chosen pro-
fession simply for the lack Of a call"
All thru the New England villages are
frequently men Of consider
able ability, who are making a brave
fight to keep soul and body together on
their meager salaries of from $500 toll
$500 a year. To all such, this need of
the Navy seems to particularly apply.