The Washington times., 1909-08-07
LAST WORDS SPOKEN
IN THE THAN CASE
Lawyers Sum Up Evidence.
Decision Is Expected to
Favor Prisoner.

COURT HOUSE. WHITE PLAINS.
\. Y. AEg. THE last words for and
against Harry X Thaw were spoken to-
day, when District Attorney jerome and
Attorney Charles Morschauser summed
/ up the evidence presented in The past
! three weeks.
! Justice Mills will announce his de-
/ cisioH on Thursday, and it would not
| be surprising if it were very favorable
/ 70 Thaw. Many believe that, even If
/ Thaw is declared still insane. Justice
/ Mills viii not send him back to Mat ca
wan, but Will confine him IN some other
State institution for observance and
final parole. If his conduct becomes such
as to earn It.
Speculation as to the outcome OF the
case is rife. but Justice Nils has not,
by word or deed, inimated what viii
be his decision.
That Attorney Morschauser planned
the closing of his case with great care
is admitted. His last witness was the
weeping mother of the prisoner, who,
as she denounced Jerome and Mattea-
wan. made a visable impression upon
the Judge who is To decide her sons
/ future.
Immediately after court vas called TO
/ order, Jerome began his summing up.
/ He reviewed the two murder trials at
/ length, and said that all the witnesses
az both the trials, with the exception
o. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw. appeared to be
trying 70 tell the truth. He took the
! testimony and. piece by piece, fitted IL
( 70 the. description Of paranoia, as out
lined by the States experts, declaring
that Tbaws whole life bears out the
paTsnOia diagnosis.
While Jerome outlined a tainted
mental heredity and an imperfect
{ childhood % Mrs. Thaw, the mother. 0C-
cupied her time By reading a magazine,
! and Harry and his lawyer conferred
( earnestly. The ThaW party paid absO-
I luteiy no attention TO Jerome clear,
sharply outlined charge Of insanity.
Mrs. Thaw's Statement.
While Jerome was speaking, Mrs.
( Thaw distributed 10 the newspaper men
/ a statement attacking several Of the
/ alienists for the State. The statement
was very long and related the attitude
( of the fourteen experts who. Jerome
said. had pronounced Thaw insane dur
/ ing the former murder trials
/ jerome. in his speech INDUCED in no
/ spectacular oratOry, but spoke in a quiet
/ converse ttonal tone.
/ Jerome outlined at great length testi-
mony which he said bore out his con-
tention that Thaw suffered from the
/ following delusIons.
That White attacked young girls that
7 the killing Of White was an act OF
Providence, that White hired the Monk
Eastman gang 10 hound ThaW, and
that his lawyers and the aIeuists were
+ iu a conspiracy 70 railroad him 70 an
asylum. He characterized Thaw's con-
/ duct In the courtroom and on the wit
I ness stand as that of an insane man,
I and attacked ThaW for his refusal 10
allow the alienists 20 examine him.
/ Jerome's talk lasted for an hour and
( half, and he concluded
/ Here is a man acquitted OF murder
/ because Of his insanity three years ago.
/ adiudged stiu insane year ago, ana
I pronounced by three experts 10 be i'm
sane now
Should Not Be Loose.
Il do not think he should be turned
I loose into the world without an oppor-
tunity being given for a further medical
I examination from day TO day Ia some
/ institution by competent men,
/ Attorney MorschaUser began his sum
mary by calling Justice Mills attention
/ 10 the fact thar Thaw mental cOndi-
tion al the time Of the killing was not
/ at issue He reviewed che testimony
/ Of the alienists and his ffty-two lay
! witnesses, who swore that ThaW vas
/ distinctly rational He then took up the
! story Of ThaW at MatteaWan. After
+ claiming that the horrors Of life there.
az outlined by yhaWs aged mother on
The stand would certainly have brought
out any iTrati0naiity. MO-Sclauser "a I'D
Dr. Baker. OF Matteawan. had been un-
able 10 cite a single instance of irra-
toual conduct. He also questioned the
sincerity OF DR. Baker.
/ Morschauser said that the testimony
for the defense AZ the Thaw trials was
the result Of the 'raking and scrapp!ng
for every sCntailla of evidence that
7 might be distorted or exaggerated into
an indication of insanity 10 save the
+ BOYS life"
After Morcheauser had spoken about
an hour. the noon recess was taken.
He said he wished 20 speak a. least
. another hour after lunch.
piper IFeidsieclr costs a little ,,,o,.a tts-