Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-02-12
Prisoner Was SO Years Old
Today---FirSt Witness
Insanity Expert.
He TOLO VERY PLAINLY
MENTAL TROUBLE OF THAW
Brain Operated Like Ship In Wind
Without Rudder- Balance
Wheel Gone.

New York, Feb. 12.-The counsel
for Thaw unexpectedly announced
last night that 1t would take about
two days more to put in its direct
case for the defense. This, of course,
does not take into consideration the
cross-examination of Thaw's wit
nesses by Jerome, but indicates plain
ly that Thaw will not go on the
stand.
What is regarded as an important
document in connection with the
trial, 1t is understood, was obtained
yesterday by Jerome from Abe Hum
nell. 1t is a Photographic copy Of
the statement which Evelyn Thaw
testified that Hummell dictated when
she went to his office with White. 1t
is understood that it charges Thaw
with having i'll treated her and even
beat her. Jerome and Hummell met
in a restaurant yesterday, and brief
conference followed, during which
Jerome made a number of notes.
Although today is Lincoln's birth
day, it was decided to hold court. 1t
is also Thaw's birthday. He is 3G
years old.
Alienist Introduced.
New York, Feb. 12.-The first wit
ness in the Thaw trial today was DR.;
Britton d. Evans, superintendent OF
the state insane hospital at Morris
Plains, N. j., which, he said, con-
tanned on an average of 1,S0O pa
tients. He first saw Thaw on Au-
gust 4, 1906, in the Tombs, and had
visited him eight times.
Knew What He Talked of.
DR.. Evans said that as a result ol
his FIRST three visits he reached the
opinion that Thaw was of unsound
mind. AS a result of his last five
visits, he says, he reached the opin-
ion that Thaw's mental condition
while still impaired, has improved
over the condition during the first
visits.
Evidence of Brain Storm.
DR.. Evans testified that on his firsi
visit, August 4, Thaw exhibited pc
culiar expression, glaring of the eyes
restlessness of the eye, suspicion oi
his surroundings and of me, nervou;
agitation and restlessness such as
comes from severe brain storm, COM
mon in those who have recently gone
through explosive or Illuminating
condition of mental unsoundness. He
exhibited delusions of persona
character, exaggerated ego, and
along with them delusions of perse-
cutionary character. He thought
himself of exaggerated importance
and believed himself prosecuted by q
number of persons These symp'
toms, he said, were characteristic OF
several mental diseases.
Adolescent Insanity Indicated.
One of those mental diseases indi'
Gated by Thaw's actions, Evans de-
clared, is adolescent insanity. Ir
adolescent insanity the patient ex
hibits no marked symptoms, "bu
when stress comes" DR.. Evans tool
a declamat9ry tone of voice, "the
man does not break down as an or
binary man would. There is COM
plete loss of mental balance, explos-
i've condition of the brain, reason be-
comes dethroned, will power is lost
and the brain is operating as shiI
without a rudder does in the wind
The balance wheel is gone. The
acts of such a man are not the acts
of a normal man, but show him to
be guided by stress and disease. His
mind has left its moorings and yield
ed to the diseased conditions"