Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-08-03
JEROME OPENS
BATTERIES
ON 7HAW
ASYLUM PHYSICIAN
IMPORTANT WITNESS
Prisoners Conduct in Mattea-
wan Cited as Showing a Con-
dition Far From Normal Great
Stacks of Printed Testimony
nv Morning journal Special Leased wirel

IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wirel
White Plains, y. " Aug. How
Harry X Tnaw conducted himself at
the Matteawan asylum, a phase of his
life not gone into in the past, was de-
scrlbed today by Dr.. Amos b. Baker,
first assistant physician of the insti-
tption. the only witness called by Dis
ulc, Attorney Jerome at the continual
zion of the hearing, by which Thaw
homes to obtain his release.
Aside from his testimony a two foot
stack of canvas bound books labeled
"The People Versus Harry *. Thaw' -
records of the murder trial furnished
MI the evidence introduced by Mr.. Je-
rome today
Mr.. jerome expects to be through
with the states alienists tomorrow and
Charles Morschauser, ThaW's lawyer,
will put his client on the stand. pos
sbly late in the afternoon
District Attorney Jerome today took
np the reading of testimony Of the sec
ond trial where he left OFF Friday.
From the several bound volumes he
elected the evidence of Catheri1"
soul. q former seamstress in the
fnaw ho sehold. at Pittsburg. This
related cme1y to Thaw's actions dur
ing cl hood particularly his fits Of
passion
The story of Thaw's CHI - pod and
the Influence affecting his nirth as
told by his mother then followed
y From the testimony of E' "a ThaW,
the district attorney selected first those
portions which referred to her hus-
bands actions when she told him of
her treatment by White and particu-
larly his wild sohbng. He read also
testimonies of Thaw'e alleged attempt
10 kin himself with laudanum in a
Paris hctcl and Of the killing of Wfito.
"Our purpose" Mr. Jerome told the
court lis to show that concelment OF
deusons is by no means an uncom-
mon thing among paranoiacs ana that
this act of providence idea was used
by the prisoner at the very commence
ment OF the thing.
Justice Mills granted Mr.. Jerome's
request that all the evidence from
which he had read, whether in Whole
or in part might be considered as the
peoples attorneys making their report.
District Attorney Jerome said he pro-
posed to submit to the expert the ny
pothetical question used at the second
trial with certain portions OF the ques-
ton prepared by ThaW's attorneys. MT.
Jerome then called Amos B. Baker ol
Matteawan as the first of his alien
lists.
DR.. Baker read from the hospital
case book, saying that ThaW heart'
hearing, eye sight, were all normal
that he had been accustomed to me
of luxury and idleness."
At that time. February ,. 1908, the
record said. Thaw laughed and talked
in silly manner" about his trial ana
acquittal, then jnst ended but TINS
phase was not allowed in the eVl-
dence.
He appears to be amused by what
he thinks was overwork by his phN-
sicians and lawyers at the trial con-
tinues the record.
He admits the evidence offered.
which shows he was insane but SAYS
the district attorney was not in posses
sion of the facts in the case. He greetS
one in a very silly and pompous man
ner," continued DR.. Baker.
DR. Baker said Thaw exhibited de-
fective memory, having forgotten the
date of his marriage. After the ilrS'
examination at Matteawan, the patient
refused to discuss the killing of Nhlto'
referring the doctor to his lawyer. The
first month he insisted that he would
be kept there for thirty days only un-
der observation and then released on a
writ of habeas corpus
His perverted practices. Thaw too
Or. Baker. were no more evidence OF
insanity than taking a cordial atter
dinner. His attitude toward the shoot
ing Of White apparently underwent ht-
tie change at the asylum. once ne
explained that the shooting resulted
from the same state of mind that oc-
ours in any ordinary individual when
placed on the brink of 4 precipice. he
said he was insane only during the mo-
ments Of the shooting. When IhaW
had been thcre a month. Dr. Baker
told him he had noted certain abnor-
NAL signs in his conduct and could sci
no date for his probable release. In
April Thaw offered a keeper $500 for
the detection of anyone tampering
with his clothes.
The witnesses presented thirty-fiNe
newspaper clippings found in Thaw :
pockets nearly all of which, according
TO Jerome pertain to sexual matters.
At the conclusion Of his direct exam
nation Or. Baker declared that ThaW
was irrational at the present time.
Under Mr.. Morschauser's cross eN-
animation. Dr Baker admitted that
Ice or more clippings had been taken
from Thaw bearing on various sub
1teis. hut that he had selected only
'hose he thought had hearing on this
case
me hearing adjourned at 5-e5 with
Ut Bakers cross examination unfin-
ished