Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-16

4 baSeS OplHloH on ACtlonS at Mdttea'
 wan-Ordered Chocolate Eclairs For
 Inmates - Physicians Testify That ] He Is Not Insane Now.
 l Poughkeepsie, N. r., May 16.- Dr. l Amos K. Baker, assistant medical di- rector of the State Hospital For the Criminal Insane at Matteawan, took the witness stand in the habeas corpus proceedings brought to get Thaw out of the asylum and read from carefully kept notes the following account of the killing of Stanford White on June p, 1906, as given by Thaw himself: T am not insane now and never was except for half a moment before l shot White and for half a moment after. felt as normal individual would feel standing on the edge of q high preci- pice l was there. my wife was there and the man who had wronged her was there in the very building where he had done his evil deed and meant to do further evil deeds.
 T was about to go away when I saw him. He sat there glarng at me, and thought of everything he had done and drew my revolver, walked over to him and shot him three times.
 Pleaded Insanity to Save Life.
 Il took d plea of insanity to save my life. My lawyers and doctors were uDpy 1Iaynp C, hpIJt if
 Dr. Baker, who was called by Dis trict Attorney Jerome for the people, testified to many conversations had with Thaw during the latter's stay in Matteawall.
 "On Feb. D POO chocolate eclairs ar rived at the hospital Thaw had or dered them and wanted them distrib- uted among the patients and attend ants, because he said he had under stood there was to be a dance at the institution that night His desire was mot complied with
 "On March ? Thaw announced to me that the thirty day period of obserya- tion was up and that he wanted to get out. I am perfectly sane now he said." gt
 Believes Thaw Insane Now.
 Eliminating the killing of White from his conduct. would you have com mitted Thaw as an insane person on what you saw of him?' asked James G. Graham, Thaw's counsel, ill cross examination.
 "I would have hesitated to do so on what saw and kneW of him when he was received at the hospital" answer ed Dr. Baker, but I would not hesi- tate to commit him on the knowledge have of him now"
 Dr. Carlos Macdonald also testified that in his opinion Thaw is insane now. MT. Graham was authority for the statement that Thaw himself will take the witness stand, possibly today. Dis trict Attorney Jerome says il Thaw testifies it will take him a long time to cross examine him.
 The first witness called by Mir. Gra- ham in rebuttal was Dr. Naldemar Sillo physician and surgeon, of New York, who said that he saw Thaw four teen times in the Tombs and at Mat teawan. The first time was November, 1907. when he found Thaw to have diminished appetite and to be other wise temporarily indisposed. He pre-. scribed for him. He found Thaw calm and rational. he said. On his suhse- quent visits his physical condition was improved. The witness advised him as to his diet and cut down his smoking.
 Dr. Sillo said that Thaw always talked with him in q perfectly normal manner Thaw. he said. expressed dis satisfaction with his first trial and with his former counsel, MT. Delmas, but expressed confidence in Mir. Little ton and the outcome of his second trial. The witness first saw Thaw at Mattea- wan on March II, when Thaw sent feI him to see if he had improved. His physical condition was better than in the Tombs. He complained of the food and expressed some fear of typhoid fever. as there had been an epidemic in the institution. On another visit on April r. Thaw spoke sorrowfully of the notoriety which his wife was then receiving. He said that he did not see what more he could do for her Dr. Sillo said that Thaw's actions i'm. pressed him as rational.
 chspIains Call Thsw Rational. Attorney Graham called several other witnesses in rebuttsl. among them the Rev. Luke r. Evers and Rev. John X. Wade. chaplains at the Tombs prison. both nf whom testified that they had talked with Thaw many times during his confinement there and had inyarla- bIy found him rational
 nE George W. JacoIy. qualifying as an expert. said that he had examined Thaw twice during his stay at Mattea- wan. once in the Poughkeepsie jail and in court. He had found Thaw. he said. logical. with good memory and capable 0f following argument He gave it as his unqualified opinion that Thaw was sane.
 Dr. Graeme Hammond. another ex- pert on mental diseases. the last of the session. declared that Thaw was moi a paran6iac and In his opinion was sane.
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