Evening journal., 1907-03-04
ASYLUM CELL
FOR HARRY THAW
Ample Evidence That Whites
Murderer is Insane
Now
DELMAS SEES THE DANGER

aitaneiy placed in District Attorney
.sromes possession what tho prosecu-
sion believes win be the best possible
,r8of of insanity when the time comes
.or the application for a commission
SD iunacy for Thaw. IN Harry Thaw's
,e.ont letters 20 Banker Lyon OF
1N sbure. he makes allegation of
,aai among the New York newspapers
fo manufacture evidence against him.
with clrcumstantiai detail and
,eoaith Of imaginary elaboration. Thaw
ni described the workings Of the con-
epracy.
fie charges that a certain reporter,
whose name he must have heard casu-
ally about the Tombs Is at the head
OF the propaganda Under the leader
shin OF this man. so Thaw proclaims,
the whole local press has been enrolled
into an organization hostile TO him-
He repeatedly dwells upon this vagary
which he apparently believes In with
all the strength Of his disordered mind.
The fact that Thaw's lawyers have
renewed their pledges 10 their errauc
client and to his family that they viii
try TO save him from the madhouse' as
we'll as the death chair Is not checking
tho District Attorneys Office IN its
present plan OF breaking OF the great
trial and landing Stanford Whites
slayer In the Mattewan Asylum for
the Criminal Insane
No Hope Of Death Verdict.
IL is known that Mr Jerome has no
hope whatever Of convicting Harry
rhaw Of murder. His course OF con-
duct I'm the trial for the last 10 days
shows what nc thinks. His remarks
out Of court show the same thing. He
feels reasonably certain that, in any
event. Harry Thaw viii 90 from the
Tombs to AN asylum but II he should
first be acquitted OF the crime charges
against him his family would have tho
right 10 elect where he should be sent.
They would undoubtedly choose some
private institution. from which his re-
lease in the course Of time would be
a comparatively easy thing. ....iIa.
on the other hand. II the trial should
be halted before the issue goes 70 the
Jury Thaw could be ordered 10 a state
asylum as a state prisoner sull under
Indictment and IL over he should be
pronounced cured the prosecutor could
bring him back TO New York county
and try him all over again FOR killing
White.
II was learned today that within tho
last 72 hours Mr.. Jerome got this most
powerful weapon TO be used IN the pro-
spective hgiit for the lunacy commits
sion. and he expects 20 turn Harry
Thaw's own written words against him.
Two weeks ago. when Baker Lyon,
OF Pittsburg. testified for the defense
he promised TO send TO court for the
use OF both sides any letters which
Harry Thaw might have written 20
him. Through a misrepresentation he
first forwarded only such letters as
he had from Thaw prior 20 the date
OF the murder subsequently the error
was corrected. and Mr.. Lyon mailed to
Court Clerk Penny a sheaf OF letters
which Thaw had written to him from
the Tombs after June 90. What Mr.
Jerome found IN these letters has
pleased and astonished him beyond
measure
T~snty one Epistles.
Jerome Is convinced that exannina-
tion Of sections Of these letters will
satisfy any commission in lunacy that
I,haw was assurodiy insane after the
murder-in fact, that he was mad as
a March hare up until three or -four
weeks before Justice Fitzgerald called
the case for trial.
IN the present aspect OF the case
these letters can probably be made
available for evidence 10 convict Thaw
Of murder. But Mr.. Jerome holds that
St would be entirely proper 20 submit
thcnl 20 a lunacy commission.
on Saturday, In fear that Jerome will
make his move early this week with
out giving them due warning, the law
3crs for the defense took time by the
foreiock Each o. thcm made an afii-
Uatit testifying that Thaw Is now
inentally competent 20 confer with his
counsel regarding the preparation and
trial Of his case.
THOSE who have talked with Mr..
Jerome have got a firm impression
that he believes. on what he knows
now. without having had the chance of
having his experts examine him. that
.T'haw is insane. Mr.. Jerome fixes This
r belief on several things. some of which
have not become public during tht
trial. The most interesting collection
OF papers which Mr.. Jerome has re-
ceived IS the 2l letters written by
Thaw TO Lyon. several Of which wer,
written during tho trial. From whai
has been learned In this city and from
Piusburg about the letters. it woul,
seem that they were not written b,
a man in the possession Of all hi
mental faculties.
Thaw's Erratic Conduct.
II the asylum is his fate. Thaw viii
have no one to blame as much as him
self. His crazy action in giving on
q statement attacking Jerome ol
Thursday evening may play a promi
nent part in railroading him to Mat
feawan II a commission in lunacy Il
ever appointed. And Thaw's own ex
perts may also play a part unwillingly
OF course. 10 send him TO Matteawan
a)r. Evans. on his direct examination
elaborated in detail as some Of Thaw'
symptoms Of insanity the dolusions o
persecution and an exaggerated ide.
his statment Thaw described his pro
t8cution rs being conducted by black
legs and snanifestiy displayed an ide.
of great personal importance. II q
<gpecfed Jerome Will not be slow, /
80 finally decides a commission Is ne
4ssary. to take advantage OF the op
Irfunity 10 show that n deluslon O
5srsacution and an exaggerated ide
81 his own importance we're symptom