The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-16
Drs. Jacoby and Hammond
Give Unqualified Opinions
Of His Sanity
WILL GO ON STAND,
so HIS COUNSEL SAYS
.Mattcawan Superintendent Re
CARDS Slayer Of Stanford White
as Menace to Public
Safety-Man Examined
Abroad Was His
Nephew.
. .oUGHKEEPsIE, N. Y, May 15.-
Examinatiop of expert medical

1., May To-
Examination of expert medical
witnesses. in an endeayor to
Il show that Harry K. Thaw is
sane, was begun here late to-
day by Thaws counsel in the habeas
corpus proceedings instituted to free
him from confinement at the Mattea-
wan Asylum for the Criminal Insane.
where he was lodged at the conclusion
OF his trial for the killing OF Stanford
White.
DR.. George W. Jacoby, qualifying as
an expert. said that he had examined
Thaw twice during his stay at Mattca-
wan. He had found Thaw, he said,
logical. with good memory and capable
of following an argument He gave 1t
as his unqualified opinion that Thaw
was sane at present
DR.. Graeme Hammond. another ex-
pert on mental diseases. the last Wit
ness OF the session, declared that Thaw
was sane now.
An interesting Development of the
day was the quoted report.of a. Russell
Peabody, OF Thaw's counsel. that Thaw
would go on the witness stand.
Would EndnnEer the Public.
Experts were called by Mr.. Jerome
earlier in the day. DR.. Carlos F. Nc
Donald testified that Thaw is an in
curable rnranoiac. whose confinement
is demanded by considerations OF pub
lie safety. DR.. Amos T. Baker. acting
superintendent OF the asylum. asserted
on the witness stand that from his
observations made in the asylum. he
was of the opinion that to free Thaw
would endanger public safety.
DR.. Baker said Thaw described his
movements preceding the shooting OF
White. his return from Europe, and
marriage to Miss Nesbit. He gave his
age as th!rty-seven. though he was
thirty four when he entered the hos
pital.
Thaw told the witness that at his
trial some OF the doctors had greatly
exaggerated thct. estimates of his con-
ditlon: that they had Il, mind nephew
OF his whom they had examined who
trayeled under the same name and waS
often taken for him. He said that his
lawyers and doctors did very clever
work in his defense. DR.. Baker said
that Thaw said TO him: 'If was ever
insane In my life the attack began one
minute before I shot White and ended
half minute afterward."
February 25th there arrived at the
hospital 200 chocolate eclairs." said
DIR. Baker. II found that Thaw had
ordered them and wished them dis
tributed among the attendants. who
were to have dance that night
told him that the rules prohibited
gifts to employees. He said he could
see no harm in buying the eclairs.'
His Wife Liked Them.
Mr.. Jerome. by questions to the wit
ness. brought out the testimony OF
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, in one of the for-
mer trials. that she was very fond OF
chocolate eclairs and enjoved eating
them at one Of Stanford Whites par
ties.
While DR.. Baker was on the stand
reading typewrittcn statement of his
conversations with and observations
OF Thaw. the prisoner, sitting by the
side. of his attorney. made notes OF
the doctors testimony.
Dr.. Baker said that Thaw refused,
by advice of counsel. to have his pho
tograph taken in the hospital. DR..
Baker described his manner as domi-
neering and peevish.