Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-07-16
WITNESS DECLARES HE TALKED
LEARNEDLY ABOUT THE
BIBLE.
PROFOUND ON RAILR0kDING
One Old Fellow Says He Answered Al
Sorts of Questions and Aston
ished Him.
STATE TO CALL ALIENISTS,

Deputy Attorney General Clark an
nounced today at the resumption of the
inquiry into the present mental condition
of Harry K: Thaw that Drs. Austin
Flint and Carlos B. Mcdonald would be
the alienists called by the state to ex-
anime the plaintiff, according to IhaWs
own suggestion. DR.. Amos h. Baker,
assistant superintendent of MatteaWan
asylum, who had Thaw under observa-
ton, will make up the trio OF experts
for the state. Thaw's counsel said ne
was not ready to announce the names OF
the plaintiffs aienists. 1t is SAID IhaW
would submit to an examination at the
hands of the states experts at the close
of the lay testimony. Deputy Attorney
General Clark said this morning that he
had no definite assurance that Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw, the plaintiffs wife, would
appear in court today IN answer 10 the
states subpoena.
Edward Havens, a keeper at the
Poughkeepsie jail, who saw Thaw daily:
was recalled to the witness stand at the
opening of court today. Ravens testl-
fed that the prisoner appeared entirely
rational IN speech and actions. ALL.
On cross-examinatiOn, District Attor'
aey Mack of Duchess county got the
witness to admit having left ThaW alone
at various times, although the sheriff
had expressed fear that Thaw might
attempt to escape. Questioned by
Thaw's counsel, the witness said he had
never known of Thaw attempting tc
escape. Witness had no fear that ThaW
would try to get away and was conf
dent Thaw could be trusted. Witness
said that If he had thought Thaw was
insane. Thaw would never have been lett
alone moment.
Thaw Knew Bible.
W. w. Smith of Poughkeepsie, who
is more than 80 years old and who adj
mitted hesitatingly that he was known
III POughkeepsie as a philanthroplst, tes-
titled that he had met Thaw on Two or
three occasions and talked with him on
religious topics.
Il told him we were brother men and
should try to alleviate each others trou.
bies and Sorrows" the witness said. Il
told him [ was one among many who
were friendly to him. He told ME he
was Presbyterian and we talked about
the Bible and about Christ's sympathetic
attitude toward sinners. Mr.. Thaw ap-
peared to be very we'll read and have a
good knowledge of the Bible. His CON
versatior was very rational"
Otto Metz, New York court officer
and former keeper in the Tombs prison
testified he frequently talked politics
with Thaw.
He certainly convinced me that the
silver question and Organism would be q
bad thing for the country" said the wit.
ness.
Deputy Attorney General Clark object.
ed to the answer and Justice Mills in.
structed the witness to confne himself to
the actual conversations between himself
and Thaw. The witness said Thaw
thought Roosevelt was a 'strong man.
and had made a good President.
Silent on White Murder.
When Joseph Hudson, an old Long
Island railroad conductor, was testifying
the dignity and solemnity Of the court
proceedings were considerable ruff1ed by
the boisterous laughter he created al
times with his droll answers and side
remarks.
Mr. Hudson said he had had four or
FIVE hours conversation with Thaw all
told principally on railroad matters. ITO
tell you the truth of the matter" said
the witness. Il wanted to find out
whether or not he was insane and asked
him all kinds of questions to draw him
out"
Thaw and the judges joined in the gen,
eral laughter which this unsolicited
statement by the witness created.
The witness said Thaw showed re-
markable knowledge of railroading.
u have probably met more men in my
Mr. Hudson volunteered land have had
a pretty good schooling IN human nature
and have seen many insane men, but
there was nothing irrational about
Thaw."
On cross-examination, District Attor-
ney Mack wanted to know if the wit
ness and Thaw had ever touched on the
killing of Stanford White in their con-
versations. The witness said not, but
that he personally believed it was IAN
act of Providence"
why didn't you question Thaw about
that?' asked Mr. Mack.
You might as we'll ask me why | had
not been to heaven" said the witness,
Il don't know"
William B. Holmes, an old Grand
Army man. and Rev. Frederick T. Ange-
vine of White Plains both testified that
they had talked with Thaw, who ap-
peared to them to be rational. The lat
ter witness told of visiting Thaw's cell.
The prisoner showed him a package of
letters which he said involved the char
acter of young girls who had been asso-
ciated with Stanford White. They had
not been brought out in evidence at the
trial and Thaw wanted DR.. Angevine to
read them but witness had only glanced
at two or three and did not open the
envelopes. Deputy Attorney Clark ques-
toned the witness at length about this
incident.
Harry X. Thaw's wife, Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw arrived in White Plains this after
noon and is expected to testify as a wit
ness for the state before the close of
today's session. No one accompanied
her from New York. She went to Dis
trict Attorney WinSlow's office in the
courthouse. where she met Deputy Attor-
Nny, .,-l- r1,yo[No 81 In,