The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-01-28
ALIfNIST GIVES
JEROME SHOCK
IN TESTIMONY
Manic Oppressive" Insanity Is
Cause of Thaw's Acts,
Says Physician
Justice Downing Asks Keen
Questions on This New
Factor in Case
May Free Thaw or Send Him
to Asylum Despite Not
Guilty Verdict

NEW YORK. Jan. 27.-The fate of
Harry Thaw will be. in the hands of
the jury by Wednesday night, it was
declared at the criminal courts build
ing this afternoon. Martin w. Little
ton, chief counsel for the prisoner,
was ready to finish his case by to-
night. and rebuttal proceedings to be
brought tomorrow by District Attor-
ney Jerome promise to be brief.
Among the witnesses to be called will
be Abraham Hummei. the lawyer
now serving sentence on Blackwells
who testified at the first trial.
In summing up, LittIeton will take
half day and Jerome will not con-
sumo any more time. Then will come
the judges charge and the wait for the
verdict.
During the morning Littleton placed
before the jury additional evidence TO
show that the slayer OF Stanford White
was insane and should not be sent 10
the electric chair The lawyer went
50 far In this direction that it seemed
conclusive that every one connected
with the defendants side OF the case
had determined TO send him TO the
asylum for the criminal insane at
and it was dificult for a
Iayman to predict any other termina-
tion Of the second trial
SURPRISE FOR JEROME
Then. before the Hypothetical oues-
ton or Attorney Llttfeton was read TO
the alienists. came surprise that
made District Attorney Jerome catch
his breath and ask for time to meet
this most remarkable form OF insanity
that was adduced as having been suf-
fered by Thaw. that was afiicting him
when he slew stanford White and
which may free him both from the
death chair and any possibility of
treatment IN an insane asylum.
This is nic-depressive- insanity.
which DR.. Sidney Russell Wells of Lon
don held TO be responsible for all of
Thaws acts. He described IL as a
threefoId cycle embracing insanity of
q violent type. during which the de-
fendant might commit acts such as
those Of the most degenerate madmen.
followed by period of depression and
acute melanchoiia. after which would
come q period OF perfect sanity.
Justice Bowling. seeing the full i'm
port OF this testimony. questioned the
alienist and his confreres al length
Through it Thaw may be declared in
sane and vet sane. may be saved from
the death penalty and yet avoid the
asylum for the insane
FAILS TO BAIT EXPERTS
District Attorney Jerome disappoint-
ed a crowded courtroom when he re-
Trained from his tactics of last year in
batting the expert witnesses for the
defense. three OF whom-Drs. Wagner.
Evans ana Jeliine-declared that Thaw
al the time he killed Stanford White
was suffering from such a defect of
quality OF his act. or that the act was
wrong. The prosecutor contented him
self with drawing from the alien
lists the fact that last year they swore
IL was during a brain storm that
Thaw committed the homicide. He
also read from the sfHdavit made by
DR.. Wagner before the lunacy COM
mission of last year. giving converse
tions had with Thaw in court which
tended to show that the defendant had
a distinct recollection OF occurrences
on the roof garden Immediately pre-
ceding the tragedy.
Justice Dowling made a most I'm
portant inquiry OF the alienists- He
desired TO know the exact nature OF
'.alanic-depressive" insanity and IL the
attacks were likely to recur- He also
asked II person suffering from this
form OF insanity would be likely TO
commit assaults.
He learned that II was a recurrent
form Of mental disorder. the attacks
coming suddenly and without warn
ing, a period OF insanity being fol-
lowed by 8 maniacal outburst. then by
a period OF complete depression and
then by another lucid interval It
seemed that the presiding Judge was
securing information upon which 10
base judicial action in case OF YER
dict OF not guilty on account OF in
sanity or OF straight acauittaL
NAY NULLIFY ACaUITTAL
Even in this latter event it was
pointed out that Justice Dowling would
have the right to have Thaw com
rnitted for. examination or liberate him
under competent guardianship
An English physician. one OF the