Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-31
District Attorney Has Frequent
CLASHES With The Commission,
But Gains Only One Point
ACCUSED HANDLED HIMSELF WELL
Seems to Have Thorough Under.
standing of What is Going on Dur.
ing the Trlal-The Many Decisions
Against Him Caused Jerome to Be.
come Very irritable.
(By Associated press.)

1 VIZ hooOClalSu IlcS6.l
NEW YORK, March 3O.-The plans
OF the Thaw lunacy commission to
complete its work today and to sub
NIT report to Justice Fitzgerald on
Monday morning ms to the present
mental condition OF the slayer or
Stanford White, were upset late this
afternoon by an appeal from District
Attorney Jerome 10 be allowed to
produce more witnesses before the
commission renches decision. AT
ter an all day session, the commits
sion adjourned until next Tuesday
morning ut which time 1t Will hear
experts offered by the district attor-
ney. Chairman Mcclure served no.
tice, however, that the witnesses Will
be compelled to confine themselves
to facts and opinions which deal with
the present condition of Thaw and
Will not be allowed to go into the
past or future.
Harry Thaw was under direct ex.
4 animation by the commissioners for
more than three hours today and
then for 40 minutes he was under. the
fire Of District Attorney, Jerome on
cross-eXamination. n
This cross.examination was allow
ed by the commission only after u
/ vehement protest from the prosecut-
ing officer that he had not been al
lowed sufficient latitude In the in.
quiry. Enjoying his first opportunity
OF questioning the defendant, Mr..
jerome attempted TO go into Thaw's
past lift, but objections to this line
of examination by Thaw's counsel
were sustained by the commission.
which held the district attorney TO
the direct issue before the lunacy
board, whether Thaw Is capable to.
day or understanding the character
OF the proceedings against him and
OF nationally advising his counsel
ThaW's direct and cross.examina-
tons today were held behind closed
doors and the commission took ex-
traordinary precautions to have the
hearing kept secret.
Held An Open Session.
When Thaw's ordeal was ended the
doors were thrown open and 1t was
announced that the executive sessions
We're at an end. AS soon as the SEES.
sion became public. District Attorney
Jerome called Doctor Allan McLane
Hamilton to the stand. The commits
sion had summoned Doctor hamilton
at the request of the district attor.
ney.
AS the alienist took the stand
however Thaw's counsel pleaded the
| professional privilege in bar of any
testimony to be offered by him.
Doctor Hamilton asked to be In
structed on this point.
Mr.. Jerome claimed that the de
tense by introducing Doctor Hamilton
as witness in the Thaw trial had
waived the right OF privilege.
The commission held that as the
privilege had not been waived before
1t. Doctor Hamilton could not testify
as to his personal examinations OF
the defendant.
District Attorney Jerome took but
a desnltory interest in the proceed.
lngs after this until 1t seemed that
the commission was about to close
lis inquiry. Then he jumped to his
feet. protested that he had been ham
pered in the lunacy proceedings by
the commission barring out pertinent
testimony; declared the commission
mad refused to illuminate its inteili
sence' from documentary evidence
which he had presented and had de
chned TO hear expert testimony.
Jerome Wins His Point.
Mr.. Jerome asserted with some
feeling that IL he were allowed the
proper latitude he could prove be
yond a reasonable doubt that Thaw
Is insane today and incapable of ad
vising his counsel in a rational man
ner.
After the district attorney had
spoken at some length, Chairman Nc
Clure told him that IL he could pro-
duce any experts who would give Il
competent opinion as to Thaw's pres
ent state of mind, the commission
would hear them next Tuesday morn
. ing
THAT is all DESIRE" said MI
Jerome.
Jerome Nas irritable.
When the public session began
District Attorney Jerome seemed
somewhat irritable and was constant
~ thereafter involved in wordy
clashes with members of the com
mission. His urgent manner of ar.
guing that he had right to adduce
additional testimony before the com