The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-17
Answers Questions and Says
He Seeks His Rights as
American Citizen.
JEROME ASKS TESTS
BY HIS OWN EXPERTS
Defense Consent to Allow Alien.
lists Who Have Not Appeared
in Case to Pass Upon the
Prisoners Sanity by OBJ
serving Him, but
Jerome Refuses.
.ouGHKEEPs1E. NJ y. Nav 1s-

Jerome Refuses.
- OUGHKEEPSIE, N. T., May 1s-
Harry x. Thaw's plea for his
liberty from Matteawan 1nsana
Asylum. where he has been
confined since his acquittal for
the murder of Stanford White, on the
ground OF insanity. will probably be
decided by Judge Morschauser on Mon-
day, May 25th. The hearing in the
habeas corpus proceedings brought by
counsel for Thaw ended late tonight,
after District Attorney William Ira
lvers Jerome, or New York. had made
| the sensational request that Thaw,
whom he had called to the stand. per-
nit his allcnists to examine the Pitts
burger and to Judge of his mental
condition. because they had had no
opportunity to converse with the de-
| fendant.
Thaw was not permitted to respond.
the court itself instructing him not to
do so. Judge Morschauser suggested.
however, that Thaw confer with his
| counsel, and that perhaps they would
find it wise to grant the request
Must be New Experts.
Thaw, his lawyers. Messrs. Graham
L and Peabody. and Drs. |Pll8rlin. Evans
and Jellffe. who had testified that Thaw
was sane, went into the judges pri-
lvate room and after a conference last
ling a little over an hour came back
into the courtroom and said that Thaw
would submit to a personal eSamina-
tion, but not by the alienists who had
appeared for Mr.. Jerome. The alientsts
to make the examination, they stipu-
| lated, must besome who had never
| appeared in the case. Another condi-
| ton was that the examination be re-
stricted to personal study OF the
relator and be not founded on testl-
mony OF previous trials
District Attorney Jerome Instantly
i rejected these terms. saying he would.
deserve to be committed to an asylum
himself II he accepted them, and there
the question ended.
Tlinw on the Stand.
| Thaw was on the stand but short
time before Mr.. Jerome made his sur
questions nut to him generally with
out much hesitation. The first ques-
tion regarding the nature OF the pro-
ceedings caused him some perpleXity;
but he finally answered deliberately
that he was seeking his rights as
an American citizen.
Mr.. Thaw. do you understand the
precise nature or the proceedings you
have instituted?" asked Mr.. Jerome.
Mr. Graham objected, and Informed
Mr.. Jerome that the proceedings had
been started by No Peabody as at
itorney and next friend
1 GU understand the nature of the
proceedings. Mr.. Thaw. do you not?"
Thaw hesitated; then, turning to the
/ Judge. said
Il am not q lawyer
BY .the Judge:
DO You understand the purpose Of
the proceedings? It is an action in
habeas corpus. Do you understand
what that means?"
Thaw turned to Mr. Jerome. who
said:
DO you understand that they are
to give you certain rights?'
Thaw answered deliberately:
THE rights OF an American citizen.''
Don't you understand that they are
to give You the right to come and 60
as you please?'' asked Mr.. Jerome.
Thaw repeated:
"As an American citizen.
4 Then he said: 1T Is to determine
whether 1 am sane"
Jerome you understand that the
determination OF this question rests
with the judge?"
Thaw. II do.
JeroRle "And you understand that
no has no power to decide 1t arbitrari-8
| ~, but must be governed by the weight
OF evide nce?"
Thaw: THE evidence taken here?'
Jerome: yes"
Thaw: IT do
Jerome: "You have heard DR.. Flint
testify?"s5
Thaw: Yes. sir.
Jerome: You know his SOM
Thaw :"I have known his son. but
Inot DR.. Flint, untilI ! saw him here
Jerome: .You had heard of DR.. Mac
Donald as specialist expert in mental
! ldlsease 2"
Thaw: mo"
Jerome Springs Surprise. Z
Jerome: Nov, Mr.. Thaw. the court
| must take into important consideration
the testimony given by doctors. and
since those retained by me have had
no opportunity to converse with You,
and thereby Judge OF your mental con-
4 dition, I ask YOU to submit to an en-
animation by them. Arc you willing
/ to do so %
Before Mr. Jerome had finished the
i question the court told Thaw not 70
4 answer. His LAWYER, Mr.. Graham Inn
4 mediately objec,e,. to the question:.
as taking an unfair advantage of tbs
young man. ~
These doctors haye already testlhea
A that Mr.. Thaw is an incurable para
noiac,' said Graham, u
"Then let us have DR. Ferris and
i DR.. Hirsch," said MIR. Jerome They
!, have not testified
Il Mr. Graham protested that they were were
4 committed against Thaw,
4 By the court: THE relator's interest,"
] IIwill be protected here. and he cannot
i be forced to submit 70 'he ena'i.','a -.
\, tion fr,,,, which Mr.. Jerome asks: but