Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-03
THINKS THAW INSANE
Opportunity to Decide Lack
ing, Says Dr.. Baker.
MILLS TAKES A HAND
He ELECTS Clear Statement From
State Alienist.
THAW NO BETTER OR WORSE
Prisoner Again on Stand to Tell Of
"Green PENCIL Metaphor and
Letter to His Wife.

WHITE PLAINS. y. Y. August 3.-Jus-
tice Isaac \. Mills again stepped into the
examiners case at today's session of the
Thaw sanity hearing and from DR.. Amos
T. Baker, acting superintendent of the
Asylum. he obtained the clear
est statement yet expressed on the stand
at the present proceedings regarding the
mental condition of the slayer of Stanford
White.
The result of his questioning might be
claimed as an advantage by either side.
The witness said he did not consider the
opportunities he had to examine the pris-
oner sufficient to permit him to form
conclusion. Nevertheless, he
declared his belief that the prisoner was
now insane and that his release would De
a menace to public safety.
Justice Mills began with the obserVa-
ton that he considered DR.. Baker an
extremely important witness. since he
was a state officer and, therefore, sup
posedly free from bias
Believes Thaw Is Insane.
What is your position?" he asked.
us it that YOU have reached from your
study of this case and observation OF
the man full and firm conviction that
he is insane' Or is it that you nave
not had sufficient opportunities TO study
that problem and reach such conclu-
sion one way or the other?'
I'VE have had a limited examinat ton.
from which we consider the man insane,
replied DR.. Baker.
DO you consider that limited examina-
ton sufficient to reach full, hrm con-
vt fi~y9
mo. sir"
"You had him under observation eleven
/ don't understand why that
was not sufficient"
He hasn't answered our questions,
Didn't your notes of the past three
months cover this subject?'
That covered it in way. But ne
would speak in metaphors and when
pressed would fall back upon advice OF
No Change for Better or Worse.
Justice Mills recalled the Jennie Burch
in which he had directed the de-
PENDANTS acquittal on the ground Of in
sanity. After two months in the asylum
she was discharged. cured and free.
do YOU notice any change in Mr.
Thaw either wayo" he inquired.
mo: he is no worse. no better.
no previous history of the case. what
would have beer your position?
"This man showed certain evidences
of mental feebleness. I should have had
strong suspicious of him. confined to the
data at hand My position is that the
man is insane"
THAT'S enough" said Justice Mills.
"And when you say he is insane YOU
mean his being at large would be pub
lie menace?"
Yes, sir.
Thaw Again on Stand.
This followed DIR. Bakers examination
Then Jerome recalled Thaw.
Jerome put in evidence two letters writ
ten by Thaw. one concerning Evelyn Nes-
bit and couched in such romantic Ian
guage that the writer himself concluded:
Il did not start to write poetry
Jerome questioned the witness again re-
garding his famous green pencil letter.
in which he compared himself to a white
pencil that wrote green when green
light fell on it, Whites influence being
the green light. Thaw said he thought
the figure such one as a sane man
would use.
The district attorney asked the witness
il he had sucn faith in his mental sound
ness that he would be willing to submit
to an examination by the states alienists.
Mr.. Morschauser objected.
Justice Mills interrupted again to say
that Jeromes experts had had plenty OF
opportunity to study Thaw during his
long examination on the stand.
When Thaw was excused recess was
taken to 1:3O.
DR.. Baker Recalled.
Dr. Baker, whose testimony took up
the greater part Of the session yester-
day afternoon, was recalled this morn
ing The other experts retained by
the state, DIR. Austin Flint and DR..
Carlos B. Macdonald, who have sat all
the hearing. were reinforced by
Dr. William Hirsch. who testified for the
at the trial.
Thaw had the same trio of experts who
have already declared that he is now
sane, and who have been at the elbow of
his counsel, Charles Morschauser. since
the hearing began. They are DR.. Britton
D. Evans, DR.. Isham G. Harris and DR..
William j. Meyer.
Thaw walked to the courtroom from
the iail Just around the corner, at
tended by his mother and his sister. the
former Countess of Yarmouth. Although
the warden kept him in sight. there was
nothing that would Indicate TO the casual
observers that the trio was other than an
1amlly party out lot morning
stroll
Outside the Jail Thaw is allowed all
possible liberty. Inside the courtroom
he moves about as he pleases.
Red-Ink Letter Interests Thaw.
AS usual. the prisoner spent several
hours last night reviewing the days de-
with his attorney in his room
at the Jail. This morning he brought
into court bundle of twenty or more
letters that came in the morning mail
and glanced through them while waiting
for the session to begin. He seemed par
interested in one that was writ
ten in bright red ink.
This morning he shook hands warmly
with Henry c. Harvey of New York city
when Mr.. Harvey stepped up to tell him
that he was one of the jurors at the
first trial who voted for acquittai
you will win.' Mr. Harvey told him.
Thaw smiled and looked pleased
The impression left by DR. Bakers tes-
timony yesterday was that he had as
serted that Thaw showed no signs of
during his first three months at
Matteawan. Under Mr.. Morschauser's
cross-examinatiOn today he declared he
could not remember ever having made
such a statement, but admitted he might
have said it.
Thaw Put to Bed Early.
The story of Thaw's life at the asylum