The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-29

OF hypnotism at about the same time as
that of the visits OF Ferris.
These so-called lessons did not en-
tighten me in the least on the subject OF
my inquiry" He laughed as he said this.
Were YOU ever insane in your life2'
Jerome suddenly switched the direction
Of his questioning.
Il think that 1 was insane during the
half minute Of the shooting in Madison
Square roof" Thaw replied without hest
tation.
Then you were crazv when you killed
Stanford White-shOt, am down unarmed
as he was and without a moments
waming?"
The interrogator put the question sol
EMMY and with potent pauses between
each word.
Insane Under Statute.
Il think-I think I might have been
insane Just at the moment that shot
whitehall is, might have been legally
insane within the compass of your
statute"
Thaw stopped 10 ask Jerome the word
ing Of the clause which tells about
one who does not know the nature and
quality OF the act he commits. I may
have been legally insane, but from what
several experts have told me. I don't
think I was medically insane at any
time-at any time during my life"
Jerome asked the witness II he con-
sidered himself sane now
Yes: and that I have always been
in a medical sense" Thaw replied de-
liberateIy.
The cross-exauiner would not let the
subject drop there. Abruptly he asked
why Thaw had killed White. Instantly
the answer came
7 really cannot tell that IN so many
words 1 guess II was because Of the
things he he'd done 10 my wife, yet
I cannot be sure on that point
guess
Yes, what do you guess?"
Il guess il was the fact that he was
not carried away with Miss Nesbit. You
know II he had been carried away with
her and had done that thing-pOssibly eX-
cusable. possibly eXcUsable. But IL was
that he did IT in cool blood: that he tried
the same thing on many other young
girls. He was 50 cold-blooded about II
ALL"
And do you think that YOU were iusti-
fed in shooting White?" Jerome touched
upon what he had hoped would prove &
weak spot IN Thaw's mental equilibrium.
No Justification for Homicide.
There IS no such thing as Justification
for a homicide" said Thaw, and he leaned
over the edge OF the witness box and
emphasized his answer with dipping Of
his pencil
ooh, then. you regret TT"
7 think no one could have more regret
than have. am sorry that I did II. !
told you so at the end Of the first trial"
Then you think you did a wicked and
nefarious thing TO approach an unarmed
man and shoot him dead without warn
ing2"
"Nfr. Jerome, I think YOU are mistaken
about his being unarmed," Thaw inter
posed. I was told later that White was
armed on that night But. in answer 10
your question. viii say yes"
Reviews Details Of killing.
Later jerome had the witness go over
the details Of the murder, conjuring him
that he should indicate Just where his
recollection OF the events stopped and
where the thread OF memory was taken
up again.
friends were leaving the roof he looked TO
one side and saw there the man who
/ looked so big and healthy This man s
| eyes caught his. and there was a glare. a
malignant glare, In them. At that second
/ recollection Of events stopped. and the
| witness said he next remembered q crowd
parting away from him as If IL was going
/ 20 dissolve over the edge Of the roof and
! he was standing with a revolver held
/ high above his head.
when you got In front Of White, had
I you determined 10 kill him?" Jerome
asked
It cannot recall Just what my deter
mination was. II 1 had any, Thaw re-
/ piled.
/ Some lively PASSAGE followed Jerome s
/ questioning about ThaW's dislike OF Al
/ len McLane Hamilton. the aIenist, who
/ had first been retained by Thaw's coun-
1 sci prior 20 the first murder trial. and
/ who later. after having made an adverse
report on Thaw's mental condition, had
I passed over as a witness for the State.
| Jerome tried IN various ways 10 bring
I out occurrences and opinions Of the Nat
| teawan prisoner which would seem 20
/ indicate his irrational attitude in regard
I To the expert.
Thaw COrrects jerome.
/ In each sally Thaw was Immediately %