Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-08
Experts for State in First
Trial Called by
LittIeton
CAUSES A SENSATION
Brings to Light a Well Laid
Scheme to Confine Evidence
to Mental State.

New York, Jan. S.-The defense in
the case of Harry X. Thaw sprung the
first great surprise of the second trial
today by announcing it had issued sub
poenaes for several expert witnesses
who testified for the prosecution at the
first hearing a year ago, and who
when District Attorney Jerome applied
for lunacy commission, made aftida.
Wit in their opinion Thaw at the time
of the inquiry was suffering from an
incurable form of insanity
Had Testified He Was Sane.
These same doctors, however. had
previously testified on the witness
stand, in response to JerOme's famous
hypothetical question, they believed
that Thaw knew what he was about
when he shot and killed White. This
move is intended by the defense as 4
block to the prosecution in putting
these same doctors on the stand, and
taken by some as showing determin-
alton that Thaw shall not be convicted
even with a danger of a stay in the
hospital for the criminal insane at
Mattetown as an alternative.
Absence Commented On.
The alienists who were witnesses for
the prosecution at the first trial were
Drs. William Mabon, Carl Mcdonald
and Eustin Flint. They were present
at the former hearing, and from the
very first day their absence this year
has been commonly noted. The de
fense in the present trial is insanity
at the time White was killed. In max
ing out this case it will require deli
cate handling to show Thaw was sc
mentally deranged at that time as tC
not know the nature or quality of his
act, and at the same time show he is
now mentally sound.
Held n ParanOiac.
Mabon, Macdonald and Flint swOr'
in their opinion Thaw is a paranoiac
whose case is incurable. 1t is I'm
doubtedly the intention of Littleton
the new chief counsel for the defense
TO interrogate and draw from thes'
men the opinion that Thaw was alst
insane at the time of the homicide, ant
then to limit all testimony as to tn,
defendants mental condition to tn,
immediate period of the tragedy.
would Have Advantage.
If successful in this, the defens
would force the trial of the cas-
strictly on Thaw's mental condition il
the summer of 1906. This, in turn
tA
a lunacy commission, and Thaw's a;
torneys are confident of his ability t
successfully fight out his claim o
present sanity before such board.
Just what steps Jerome will take t
combat this unexpected move by tn
defense is not known.
No Jury for Two Weeks.
New York, Jan S.-Predictions wer
freely made at the beginning of tn
third day of the trial of Harry X Thay
that jury will not be secured befor
the latter part of next week. Their
were but three sworn jurors in tn
box when court convened today an
they represented the net proceeds c
the first two panels of 100 talesme
each.
Orders 500 More.
The third and last panel of 300 ori:
inally summoned reported today, br
was not thought it would furnish a
the material needed to complete tn
trial, r. AS a result the court ordere
that 200 additional talesmen be sun
moned to report tomorrow and Frida,
First Vatcb Nets Little
The first batch of talesmen calle
was quickly disposed of as every ma
had too fixed an opinion to serve as
fair juror, until John II. Holbert, a
elderly man, president of the Sprir
Water company, was reached. +
was closely questioned and finally a
cepted.
Gets Lecture.
Philip j. Goodhart, stock broke
who was absent yesterday when b
name was called, appeared today al
made his excuses. When Goodha
declared he held an opinion whit
could not be changed he got a lectu
from the court, ending with an ord
that his name be stricken from Il
special list and put upon the ordina
jury panel. Similar action has bee
taken in the cases of several 9th
talesmen.
EngIishman Accepted.
John Enthwistle. builder, born
England, was accepted as tempora