Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-04-11
DELMAs FINISHED
The Last Word Has Been Said
to tho Jury In Defense
81 Harry Thaw.
'DEMEATlA AAERIcAAl''
Although Declaring at The Outset Ne
would not do 90 the Attorney
Appealed strongly to the
"unwrItten Law"

New York, April 10.-In an eloquent
appeal both to the written and un-
written law, Dolphin M Delmas Tues
aay afternoon committed Harry X.
Thaw's fate to the jury. The Califor-
MIA attorney concluded his five hours
summing up speech declaring his
client was Justified in killing Stan
ford White.
Wednesday morning at 1880 DIS
erict Attorney jerome will make his
appeal in behalf Of the prosecution,
Justice Fitzgerald probably VIII
charge the Jury, and by Wednesday
evening at the least the famous case
will pass to the deliberation OF the
twelve men who have so carefully at
tended Its uncertain course for weeks
past Mr.. jerome expects to tax
Cor three or four hours.
Justice Fitzgerald would not say
Tuesday whether or not he would
charge the jury directly following
the district attorneys closing re
marks, but the general impression is
that he will do SO.
with the exception Of the moments
when he was reading from testimony
Mr.. Delmas' speech was one OF sus'
tanned oratorical effort. He threw
about the form Of Harry Thaw the
cloak Of chivalrous knighthood'
s'Why," he shouted, SHOULD we who
admire the chiyalry Of the knights OF
the middle ages who went about re
dressing wrongs and resculng maid
ems in distress, withhold our sym
pathy from this brave man?
Bitterly the attorney assailed Stan
ford White. He declared White
sought to play with Evelyn Nesbit SO
long as her beauty remained and then
would have thrown her away like
4 dirty rag to float down life's sewers
to a grave in the potter's field.
With dramatic emphasis Mr.. Del
mas cried out that when Harry Thaw
heheld Stanford White on the Mad
ison Square roof garden the story OF
his wife's wrongs overcame him. he
plctured In an instant, as dying man
may picture, his past life-all that
Stanford White had done-"the ruin
he had wrought and he struck; struck
rs the tigress strikes in defense OF
her young; struck for the home;
struck for American woman, struck
for humanity, and Stanford White
fell.
.Ah, gentlemen" the advocate went
on, "lf Harry Thaw believed he was
the instrument Of Providence, who
will say he was mistaken"
Mr.. Delmas discussed but briefly
the testimony of the expert witnesses,
declaring that whatever weight might
attach to their utterances was on the
side Of the defendant. He declared
the burden Of proof as to Thaw's
sanity at the time Of the homicide
rusted with the prosecution, which
HAD faiied to make out Its case.
an discussing Thaw's mental state
Mr.. Delmas came at last to the "un'
written law" He declared the ex-
perts had been at loss to classify
the form Of insanity from which
Thaw suffered.
Il will suggest Its name" he de-
clared. Il would call It 'dementia
americana. 1t Is a species OF insan- |
ity which has been recognized in
every state of this Union. 1t is that
species Of insanity which makes the
American man believe his home, his
wife, his daughters, are sacred, and
that whosoever stains the virtue Of
his threshold violates the highest OF
human laws"
Twice during his closing periods Mr..
Delmas was interrupted by Assistant
District Attorney Gorvan who sug-
eested the argument was taking TOO
wide a scope. and Justice Fitzgerald
called Mr.. Delmas' attention to the
TACT.
Thaw seemed to be in the best OF
spirits, and declared to his lawyers in
the Tombs that he felt his case was
won. He seemed to have no dread OF
ihs assault Of the district attorney.
There was a report that Mr.. jerome
was III, but he appeared at his office
during the afternoon and said he had
been busy for two days preparing his
argument.
In view Of the district attorneys
rsmarks before the lunacy commits
rIon that Thap IL hopelesBly insane
much interest attaches 70 The line Of
argument ~ WIN pursue in asking
~ ne mans conviction.
nust Restore Properly 70 receiver.