Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-05
DR.. Baker Says He Showed
Amusement over Clever Way
He Got into It.
REFUSED TO ACCEPT MAIL
Would Not See Ills wife until Told
Tint Morciinuscr sent icr--IIis
Mothers Testimony NJ the
Murder Trials introduced
by jerome Yesterday.

White Plains N. Y. Aug. 2--How Harry
i. Thaw conducted himself at the
Natteawan asylum for the criminal In
sane, a phase of his life not gone into
before, was described to-day by Or.
Amos y. Baker first assistant physician
Of the institution. the only witness called
by District Attorney Jerome at the
continuation of the hearing by which
Thaw hopes TO obtain his release. The
examination Of Or. Baker had not been
finished when adjournment was taken.
Aside from his testimony. n two foot
stack Of canvass bound books labeled
The People IS. Harry X Tha w"-records
Of the murder trials--ftlrnished all the
| evidence introduced by Mr. Jerome to-
day.
Mr. Jerome expects to be through with
the states alienists tomorrow when
Charles Morschauser. Thaws lawyer,
will put his client on the stand. possibly
late tomorrow afternoon.
Mrs. Mary Coplcy Thaw. as she sat in
court to-day, saw Mr.. Jerome introduce
against her son testimony she had willing
~ given heretofore to save his life.
To-day Il was seized upon by the state
to prove him insane. II included her ac-
counts Of his nervous temperament rs a
child, materially valuable 70 Thaw when
he was IN danger of the electric chair but
now nenacins 10 his hope Of proving
himself n sane man. One thing quoted
by the District Attorney was her state
mont concerning Harry Thaw that his
body was too puny for his head. and be-
fore and after the measles he had St
Nitus dance"
DR.. Tqker's testimony was read by
himself from his lease book" and do
scrihcd Thaw's conduct both normal
and queer. on many occasions from Feb
ruarv I. 1853 tho sane Of his commit
ment until June % Of the present year.
While some Of these notes described
the PATIENTS acts ms "silly.' and while
the witness said that in his belief Thaw
was irrational now. Thaw's. attorney
made him admit that during the first
three months OF the patients stay a.
Mattoawan he observed no signs of par
anoia After that Thaw. by his counsers
| advice, refused to let himself be exam
ined or to answer questions asked by the
hospital physicians.
J ADMITTED EXAGGFRAT1ON AT HIS
TRIAL.
When Thaw reached Matteawan on the
day the jury acquitted him Of the mur-
der Of Stanford White on the grounds
of insanity. almost his first statements.
according to Or. Baker were "expres
sions of amusement over the clever work
Of h.s lawyers and alienists.'' He said
frankly. according 10 Dr. Baker. that
his acouittal was obtained by cxagger-
ating certain Incidents and putting in
testimony Jerome was unable to refute
| because ne had not the facts.
The witness described Thaw's manner
| at most times "a SILLY and pompous."
| He said ne quarreled with the other
patients who played cards with him.
calling them stupid donkeys' From
| his note book ne told Of various incl
dents. including Thaw's refusal to accept
mail addressed to him: his refusal to
see his wife until told that Mr., Nor
| chauser had sent her. and his "inso-
| lent and domneerinS" actions 10 the
physicians and attendants
| QUEER FIND IN THAW'S POCKETS.
| Last fall the prison authorities searched
| Thaw's pockets when he was asleep ard
| the next day he offered 500 reward for
the detection Of any one tampe-ing with
| his clothes. The fruits of this search
| appeared in court to-day when Or. Baker
| handed in as evidence about thirty news
| paper clippings They were not read. but
| Mr.. Jerome explained that all were on
| sexual topics.
! Mr.. Morschauser weakened the force OF
| this exhibit by making the witness
! testify that in all he had found nearly
30 clippings in Thaw's pockets and that
| they were on various subjects. He said
he had brought the 50 10 court because he
| thought they all had bearing on the case,
Justice Mills told him to fetch the other 5
| Tomorrow.
! When court adjourned for the day Mr..
| Morchauser was trying to make d.,
| Baker admit that musical nj the hos
| pital not long age was arranged for the
purpose of letting Thaw make Il fool
| Of himself. Thaw refused to attend the
| affair.