The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-05-19
HARRY K. THAW ON THE STAND
Insanity Case Ends Abruptly After
Jer0me'S Examination.
Only a Few Questions Asked of
Whites Slayer, Who Was Very
Nervous on the Stand.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y.-Harry K.
| Thaw's plea FOR his liberty from Mat
teawan insane Asylum, where he has
been confined since his acquittal for
the murder of Stanford White on the
ground Of insanity, was left to be de-
cided by Judge Morschauser after a
three-day proceeding here. The hear
ing in the habeas corpus proceedings
brought by counsel for Thaw ended
after District Attorney William TRAY
ers Jerome, of New York, had made
the sensational request that Thaw,
whom he had called to the stand, per-
NIT his alienists to examine Thaw and
Judge of his mental condition. as
heretofore they had had no opportun-
ity to converse with the defendant
Thaw was not permitted to re-
spond, the Court itself telling him not
to do SO. The Judge, however, sug-
gested that Thaw confer with his
counsel, and that perhaps they might
decide that it would be wise to grant
the request.
Thaw, his lawyers, Messrs. Graham
and Peabody, and Drs. Pilgrim, Evans
and Jelliffe, who had testified that
Thaw was sane, went into the Judges
private room and after a conference
lasting little over an hour came
back into the courtroom and said that
Thaw would submit to personal eX-
animation, but not by the alienists
who had appeared for Mr.. Jerome.
The alienists who should made this
examination, it was stated, should
be selected from some who had never
appeared in the case. Another condi-
ton was that the examination should
be restricted to a personal study of
the relator and should not be founded
on testimony of previous trials.
District Attorney Jerome instantly
rejected these terms, saying he would
deserve to be committed to an asylum
himself if he should accept them, and
there the question ended.
Thaw was on the stand only short
time before Jerome sprang his sur
prise, and answered the few questions
put to him generally without much
hesitation. The first question, re-
garding the nature of the proceed
ings, caused him some perplexity, but
he finally answered deliberately that
he was seeking the rights of an Amer
lean citizen.
Both sides have agreed to offer no
arguments in the case, but each will
present briefs on the constitutional
question raised by Thaw's counsel at
the beginning of the hearing, to the
effect that Thaw's commitment to
Matteawan was unconstitutional.
Thaw will remain in the Duchess
County Court House until the decis-
ion is rendered.
Never since the day when Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw appeared as the star wit
ness in the first trial of her husband
for the killing of Stanford White has
so interesting a chapter in that cele-
brated case been revealed as fell dur
ing the second days proceedings from
the lips of DR.. Amos F. Baker, super
intendent of the State Hospital for
the Insane, at Matteawan, who has
had Harry K. Thaw in his keeping
and under his personal observation
during the last three months.
Without hesitation DR.. Baker ex-
pressed the opinion that Thaw is
victim of paranoia.
In the opinion of most of those who
have listened to the testimony adj
duced in the habeas corpus proceed
ings, his testimony is likely to prove
conclusive in the mind of Judge Nor
schauser, regardless of the combat of
expert alienists.
Opinion among disinterested audi
tors is well nigh unanimous that
Thaw is destined to so back to Mat
teawan, there to remain for an indefi-
mite period.