The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-03-22

New York, March 20.-The blow
which Harry Kendall Thaw has been
in ttHsor OF ever since his trial for the
nrurler OF Stanford White began, fell
soday District Attorney Jerome did
act make formal application for the
sD,1 imminent of a commission in lu-
macy, but in an impassiOned speech ha
appealed to the conscience Of the court
assuring that Thaw as he sat daily
in uourt is unable intelligently to ad-
wise hts counsel and is believed by
every one who had watched and came
in contact with him to be insane.
MIR. Jerome asserted that his own
aliepis4ts-the six who testified for the
ssate were convinced when they had
eaRsiaered all the facts in connection
with the case that T'haw was Of un-
SQUAD R1iad. Mr.. Jerome dramatically
accused the cOunseI for the defense OF
eoacaaIing testimony which # present
ed 10 the court would make the CON
uinuance of the trial a crime. So ear
nestiy did he plead that Justice Fltz-
gerald dismissed the jury until Friday
nlarning and adjourned court until
o'clock tomorrow afternoon when he
viii consider what ever evidence
either side has to offer and decide
whether the trial shall go on or
whether commission in lunacy shall
be appointed to pass upon Thaw's
nasM$aI condition today.
The scenes attended the adjourn
manE Of court shortly after l O'Clock
were dramatic and exciting. Thaws
counsel seemed taken utterly by sur
ps4se. This was expected to be the
tasA day OF the trial except for the
summing up before the jury. Soon
aAser the three coTnered discussion
aRaong Justice Fitzgerald District At
eMney Jerome and Mr.. DelmaS began,
haw's FIVE other attorneys gathered
enc by one around the judges desk and
sor d. time seemed intent upon deny
ias what the court had termed the
charge of unprOfeSsiOnal conduct
Sqoug against them by the prosecut-
ing officer.
Thaw, detected, sat deserted at his
caunsel table He had seemed unusu-
aiIy pale and somewhat haggard when
ne came into court at the beg mag
OF the morning session having COM
p4adned of fatigue and restlessness.
When the district attorney and Mr.
Dalmas began their usual morning
stirnish soon after the trial started
Thaw's spirits seemed to brighten and
he laughed in good humor at come pas
sage at arms.
AS the argument began to take on
a more serious phase however, the
sadsoner sat deeply concerned. He
flushed crimson as one by one his
sttoaneys left him to rally TO the sup
rscr,t of Mr.. Delmas who in the midst
OF the proceedings was superseded by
Attorney Gleason. Thaw bit his nails,
oaened and closed his hands nervous
4y and finally sank down III his chair
i'm an attitude of utter detection. In
an adjoning room where they could
hear the excited and uplifted voices OF
counsel wrangling one with the other
stood Mrs William Thaw, the mother
and Evelyn Nesbit Thaw the wife who
had barred the secrets of her soul in
he effort to save her husband from
the electric chair and from the fate
he declares he breads more-a mad
NgIse.
The climax of the nine weeks was
precipitated by the action OF the de-
dense in calling to the stand DR.. A NJ.
hamilton the alienist who was first
0led into the case by Thaw's original
lawyers Messrs. Black Olcott, Grubes
dRdBonynge but who was dfsrhssed