The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-08-05
PREDICT THAW'S
RETURN TO CELL
Justice Mills Expected to Decide
/ Against Prisoner.
IS CONFUSED BY JEROME
Near a Collapse When Notes Are
! Sprung on Him-Insane, and
I Dangerous, Say Experts
for State.

White Plains, n. Y, Aug. 4-Pre-
dictions are made to-day that Justice
Mills will send Harry Thaw back to
the asylum at Matteawan.
Confronted by notes, clippings and
a mass of memorandum found in his
clothing at Matteawan asylum by DR..
Amos T. Baker, Thaw turned pale,
became confused and his mutterings
were so incoherent the stenographer
was unable to get tangible declara-
ton on the court minutes.
The district attorney took no ad-
vantage of his nervous condition. He
halted the cross-eXamination after
Thaw again offered the explanation
that the notes had been made for in
formation of counsel.
Thaw Is Near Collapse.
Thaw's showing on the stand was
by far the worst exhibition of the
hearing. He evidently felt the force
of'Dr Bakers declaration that he was
a dangerous lunatic and went to the
witness stand when Jerome called
him, at great disadvantage. His
face twitched and he continually
turned in his chair, nervously hand.
ling the papers that Jerome handed
him. After he read the letters his
voice dropped at times until even
those nearest him were unable to
hear him.
Justice Mills again stepped into the
case and from Dr. Baker obtained
ings regarding the mental condition OF
the slayer of Stanford White. The re
suit of his questioning might be
claimed as an advantage by either
side. The witness said that he did
not consider the opportunities he had
to examine the prisoner sufficient tc
permit him to form satisfactory
conclusion, nevertheless, he declared
his belief that the prisoner was now
insane and that his release would be
a menace to public safety.
Mills Recalls Burch Murder.
Justice Mills recalled the Jennie
Burch murder in which he had direct
ed the defendants acquittal on the
ground of insanity. After two months
in the asylum she was discharged
cured and free.
DO you notice any change in Mr.
Thaw either way?" he inquired.
mo; he Is no worse, no better"
Suppose you had this man Thaw
with no previous history of the case
what would have been your position?"
This man showed certain evil
'dences of mental feebleness. l should
have had strong suspicious of him
confined to the data at hand. My po
sition is that the man is insane"
Calls Thaw Public Menace.
That's enough" said Justice Mills
"And when you say he is insane you
mean his being at large would be q
public menace?"
Yes, sir"
This followed DR.. Bakers examina
ton, and then Mr.. Jerome recalled
Thaw
Jerome put in evidence two letters
written by Thaw, one concerning Eve
fyn Nesbit and couched in such 70
mantle language that the writer him
self concluded: Il did not start tc
write poetry"
Jerome questioned the witness
again regarding his famous green
pencil letter, In which he compared
himself to white pencil that wrote
green when a green light fell on it,
Whites Influence "Green Light"
Whites influence being the green
light, Thaw said he thought the fig
ure such a one as a sane man would
use.
Says Thaw Dominates Counsel.
81 noticed almost from the first"
said DIR. Austin Flint, commenting
on his observation of Thaw at the
first trial, IAN attitude of extreme
Importance. His manner was that
common to one affected with para.
noia. 1t was what we call the "in
sane aspect 1t seemed to me lack
of appreciation of his peril"
The witness said Thaw appeared
to dominate his counsel entirely
Speaking of the present hearing, Dr.
Flint declared he had observed the
same attitude on Thaw's part. 81
think he has taken a more active
part than ever before" he said.
KIDNAPPED BY SISTER2