Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-27
Slayer of Stanford White Will
Take Stand to Give What He
Claims Is Proof of His Sound
Mental Condition.
THAW TO BE TARGET
OF RAPID CROSS-FIRE
OF ATTORNEY JEROME
Every Seat in White Plains Court
Room Is Taken by Curiou
Crowds to Hear Evidence IN
Thaw's Fight for Freedon-
(By Associated Press. }


WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, July 26.-The
severest ordeal of Harry K. Thaw's
struggle for freedom from the Matteawan
Asylum for the Criminal Insane was be-
fore him today when Justice Isaac n.
Mills resumed the hearing in the supreme
court here at which Thaw is trying to
show himself sane.
Charles Morschauser, his attorney, re-
affirmed his intention of putting Thaw on
the stand to give personal proof of his
sound mental condition.
Mr.. Morschauser had three lay wit
nesses left when the hearing adjourned on
July Is, to enable both sides to study the
records Of Thaw's two trials for killing
Stanford White.
JEROME AT TRIAL.
District Attorney Jerome, of New York.
who last week announced his intention of
helping the state, and the Westchester
county authorities, came over from his
summer home at Lakeville, Conn.,, today.
Mr.. Morschauser said that while he
would like to put his ahenists on the
stand before he called his client, the order
Of their testimony might depend upon
their professional engagements. He has
subpenas for Dr. William j. Meyer, the
White Plains Jail physician; DR.. Britton
d. Evans, of Morris Plains, the coiner of
the term brain Storm" and DIR. H.
Ernest Schmidt, of White Plains.
Every seat in the court room was taken
and every aisle crowded an hour before
the trial opened.
When convened Deputy Attorney GEN
eral Roger Clark, on behalf OF the state,
called Justice Mills attention to Mr..
Jerome's presence, saying that he had
consented to appear with the states at
fnr At Ha4v
OBJECTION TO JEROME.
Thaw's attorney Immediately objected
to Jeromes participation. recalling the
latter's affidavit before Judge Gaynor
when an effort was made to hold the
present hearing in New York instead of
White Plains, to the effect that he could
not act with the authorities Of West
chester county.
Justice Mills settled the matter by re-
marking that Jerome had never said he
would not appear at the request of the
state, and Mr.. Jerome remained, taking
charge OF the case.
Expert testimony began with the first
witness, Dr. Henry Ernst Schmidt, Of
White Plains.
His conclusion was that Thaw's con-
dition, both mental and physical, was
normal, excepting his heart which beat
a trIfie too fast. The witness read a
condensed history of Thaw's life, COM
piled from interviews with the prisoner.
In this, various events which might
have a bearing upon his mental condi-
ton were explained by Thaw. In dis
cussing the killing Of White, Thaw told
the witness that it some times surprised
himself that he felt no remorse.
FOUND THAW NORMAL"
81 found Mr.. Thaw," concluded DR..
Schmidt, logical memory excellent, at
tention to an argument good and control
of his emotions normal"
THAw WATCHES JEROME.
On cross-examination District Attorney
Jerome plunged at once INTO the scientific
aspects of paranoia. AS Mr.. Jerome ques-
toned Dr. Schmid, Thaw, sitting so close
that at times their elbows almost touched.
studied the district attorney calmly and
with an expression OF great interest.
Mr.. Jerome questioned DIR. Schmid for
more than an hour. paying particular at
tention to Thaw's ideas regarding STAN
ford Whites private life. The witness
said Thaw has discussed this subject with
him, but he did not consider it's bearing
important upon the question of Thaw's
present mental condition. When DR..
Schmid finished, a recess was taken un-
til 1870.