The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-15
Six Experts Called by State In
the Thaw Trial.
Testify That Defendant Was
Sane When He Shot White.
ALL ARE DISMISSED
without Any Cross Examination
on Part of Defense.
One Swears There Is No Such
Thing as Brain Storm.


DeInnss leading counsel for Harry Il.
Thaw, sprang a decided surprise upon
District Attorney Jerome today by an
nouncing that he would not cross-ex-
anime any of the experts of the state
Mr.. Jerome thereupon during the
morning session of the trial put nNe
alienists upon the stand one atter the
other and claiming their familiarity
with the hypothetical question put 10
the experts for the defense and also
Mr.. lJerome's $4,000 word exposition OF
the evidence, they declared tnelr opih5
ion that at the time IhaW sHq. ~, "a "a
ture and quality of his act ana hne"
that the act was wrong
Mr.. Hartridge for the defense unoer-
took a cross-examination of Dr. MaDoh
nv adding certain details to Mr.. Jer-
ONES lo1G hypothetical question
In order that he might prepare Ine
additions to the questions more denh-
itely than he made them In his extern
poraneous statement, the luncheon re-
cess was ordered earlier than usual
DR.. Allan McLane Hamilton, who mas
been summoned as a witness IN sne
case had a long conference with MI
Delmas and others of ThaWs couhseI
before the morning session OF court
When Mr.. Jerome purposed caIlnS III
Hamilton he seemed intent upon pIof-
ing that Thaw suffered from an incur
able form of insanity. Then came the
discovery of the James Clinch smith $
testimony as to Thaws rational con.
versation on the Madison square a hooa
garden and his roaming about the pIace
as if looking for the man VINO. became
his victim and Mr.. Jerome's switch 10
a policy of pressing the trial TO a. con
clusion on the Indictment 1or muroer
in the first degree
DR. Hamilton has expressed the opln-
ion that Thaw was insane when ne
saw him in the Tonbs and remains So
Proceedings in Detail.
New York, March 15.-At the open
Attorney jerome consented to a re-
quest from Mr.. Delmas OF the oerense
that he be allowed to defer the cross
examina ton of Dr. Austin Flint, VINO VINO III II,
questions yesterday declared the opln-
ion that Thaw at the time he shot aho
killed Stanford White was sane ano
knew the nature and quarty OF nus
act. DR.. Flint accordingly was ex-
cused and DR.. William Hirsch OF the
Cornell Medical school was called as
the second of the six experts called 70
testify for the state ,
by stating what his medical education
and experience had been, Dlstrlct Al
torney Jerome asked him:
was the person described IN lne
hvpothetical question of the defense
suffering from such mental derange-
ment that he did not know the nature
or quality of his act or thar the act
.sHe certainly was not was the
reply.
TO the longer question framed by the
district attorney.
Now, DOCTOR, said MI Jerome
'av-hat is a brain storm ??
No Such Thing as Brain Storms
''There is no such thing as brain
storm known among scientific men,
came the response
When DIR. Wagner was on the wit
ness stand for the defense he cited to
Mr.. Jerome a case of brain storm de-
scribed in a recognized text book on
insanity. Mr. Jerome called this case
to DIR. Hirsch's attention. Mr.. Delmas
objected on the ground that it was the
collateral issue. Justice Fitzgerald
overruled the objection and DR.. Hirsch
said the case cited was no more sim
liar 10 the Thaw affair than case of
smallpox resembles a broken leg"
THAT is ALL said Mr.. Jerome
mo questions; doctor, you may step
aside" said Mr. Delmas.
Dr. William Pritchard, of the New
York Polytechnic institute, followed
DR.. Hirsch on the stand His responses
to the two hypothetical questions were
identical with those of DR.. Hirsch-
Mr.. Delmas waived DR.. Pritchard
aside when he was turned over by Dis
trict Attorney Jerome for cross ex-
animation
1t was then announced from the de-
fendant's counsel table that there
would be no cross examination of the
experts for the state
DR.. Albert Warren Ferris. of the
College of Physicians and Surgeons.
the next expert for the prosecution,
was on the stand but a few moments.
He answered the two Hypothetical
questions as the other had done and
was dismissed by Mr. Delmas.
DR.. A r. Diefendorf of the state
hospital at Middletown. Conn, and a
professor of mental diseases at Yale
university, was the fifth of the prose-
cution's experts to testify that in his
opinion, based on the two hypothetical
questions the prisoner was sane when
ne killed White.
Mr. Delmas started to ask DR..
Diefendorf a question as to certain
statements made in one of his works.
Mr. Jerome objected and Delmas
withdrew the question.
DR.. Diefendo-f thereupon was ex-
cused and DR.. Mabon. the last of the
six experts, was called DR.. Mabon
was of the same mind as the first five
doctors who preceded him on the
stand.
Hartridge Takes a Hand
Whsn Mr. Jerome had concluded his
direct examination of DR.. Mabon, who
is superintendent of the state hospital
for the insane on Wards island Mr.
Hartridge of Thaw's counsel said he
had a few questions to put to him.
rs it not true" he asked, that ply
sicians often differ as to the form of in
sanity from which a patient may BIZ
suffering?"
District Attorney Jerome interpose6
an objection. but it was overruled.
They do admitted DIR. Mabon.
Mr.. Hartridge said that many things
which are in evidence were left out oi