The Grenada sentinel., 1908-02-01
THAN AU|ONAMA VICTIM
BRITISH DOCTOR TELLS HOW PA
TENT "DANCED AROUND
LIKE A MADMAN."
DEFENSE ENDS THEIR CASE
All the Direct Teotimony Is in; Now
Reading 15,oocWord Hypothet-
ical Question to the Three
Experts.

New York. Jan. 28.-Harry Kendall
Thaw's peculiar actions in England
were described for the defense at yes
terday's session of the trial by DR..
Sydney R. Wells of London. DR.. Wells
added a mental malady to the long list
ascribed to Thaw-from "brainstorms"
down through systematic delusions, y
focal delusions," "dementia Ameri-
cana" and "stuporous melancholia."
DR.. Wells thought Thaw was a victim
of "automania," and then of "recur-
rent insanity" He told how Thaw
pranced about like a madman, declar-
ing that in his spacious hotel apart
ment he had not room to breathe, and
demanding 2S tons of ice with which
to cool the room, although the weather
was pleasant.
At 1926 the defense completed all
its direct evidence and the reading OF
the 15,OO0-word hypothetical question
to the three experts was begun by At
torney Littleton.
DR.. Charles F. Bingaman, the Thaw
family physician of Pittsburg, was put
on the witness stand when court
opened for the third week of the trial.
Dr. Bingaman told OF the early
symptoms of nervousness in Harry
Thaw, saying he was first called to
attend the boy when he was 3 years
old. At that time his nervousness
often bordered on convulsiOns. The
attacks usually followed various chill
dren's diseases. Thaw slept badly as
a child, requiring relay of nurses
most of the time.
Saw Him in the Tor,bs.
Dr. Bingaman said that in the fall
of 1903 he was called to attend Harry
Thaw in Pittsburg and treated him for
nervousness and melancholia. This
was after Thaw's first trip abroad with
Evelyn Nesbit. The witness saw Thaw
several times in the Tombs after his
arrest and the defendant always re-
ferred to the Madison Square Garden
tragedy as the hand of Providence"
Thaws acts and appearance in the
prison impressed the witness as IRA
tional.
1t was of DIR. Bingaman that Dis
trict Attorney Jerome said at the last
trial, when Thaw's mental condition
was under investigation: Il would
rather have the testimony of an old
practitioner like this than all the ex-
perts you could put upon the stand"
London Doctor Testifies.
Mr.. Thaw was in very nervous
condition." said DR.. Wells. ''His pulse
was extremely rapid and he COM
planned of pains in the head. l dag
nosed his case as one Of mental dis
turbance."
On one of his visits to the defend
ant. witness said, he found his patient
in highly excitable state, despite the
fact that his temperature was only SO
degrees He feared Thaw might harm
himself. Thaw did not respond to
treatment, even opiates failing, and
DR.. Wells said he decided to send the
young man to the Devonshire Nursing
Associations hospital. On another
visit he found Thaw dancing about
the room like a madman. He report
ed his case at the hospital as auto
mania.
Mr. Thaw at the hospital had a
perfectly enormous room," continued
Dr. Wells, "but complained that he did
not have room to breathe. He also
complained of the terrific heat and
demanded that 20 tons of fee be placed
in the room. He didn't like the nurse
assigned to him and wanted me to EN-
ploy a whole staff of nurses so he
might find one he liked. When he
was in the bed the patients eyes
glared into vacancy. The acute attack
at the hospital continued six days. He
had no fever at any time. His talk
was largely incoherent. There was
no evidence of alcoholism"
"Acute Recurrent Insanity"
During your entire attendance on
Mr.. Thaw in 1899, Doctor, what con-
clusion did you reach?" asked Mr.. Lit
Teton.
Il diagnosed his case as acute re.
current insanity"
DIR. Wells said he saw Thaw in 1901,
1902 and in 1903 or 1904. He treated
him at these times, but there were no
acute symptoms as in 1899.
Peace in Sinht At GoIdfieId