Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-07-29
Answers All Questions Propounded
Readily and Intelligently.
SAYS CRIME, WAS WICKED ACT
Shows Disposition to Protect Repu-
tation of His Wife.
BELIEVES IN HIS OWN SANITY
Thinks He Was Legally Insane, How
ever, when He Fired Fatal
shot-To Have Another
Ordeal Today.

WHITE PLAINS, n. Y, July 2s.-Harry
X Thaws fate lay in his own hands to-
day. For six hours he occupied the wit
ness stand while District Attorney Jerome,
the man who twice tried to send him to
prison and who once has thwarted an ef-
fort to release him from a criminal insane
asylum delved into his life history
Thaw emerged creditably from the ordeal.
Whatever Jerome and his aliensts may
make of the examination, to the eye and
ear Of the layman Stanford Whites slayer
showed no signs Of insanity on the stand
today.
Tonight Thaw, the members Of his fam
lily and his retnue of attorneys and
perts were unanimous in their opinion that
he has proved his fitness to be at large.
But Thaw's ordeal is not over. He will
remain on the stand tomorrow and perhaps
a day longer. The states alienlsts believe
that II he is insane he will be more likely
to betray himself toward the end when
wearied by Jeromes continued hammer
ing.
Both Are GOod-Natured.
Neither Thaw nor the New York district
attorney displayed anything but the utmost
good nature today. Frequently the dialogue
resembled the chat of friends at an after
noon tea. Sometimes Thaw thought he had
scored a point and smiled with the keenest
enjoyment. The smile was always re-
Elected on the face of his white-haired
mother, who sat in the court during the
day with other members of the Thaw fam
ily. Before he took the stand Thaw kissed
her on the cheek and frequently at critical
points during the examination he shot a re-
assuring glance in her direction.
.t.Ng. Frt.,
insanity mainly on Thaw's alleged
Ihallucinations regarding Stamford Whites
treatment Of young girls. Time and time
again he asked the witnesS own opinion
of his mental state. Thaw's replies, in sub
stance, were:
Il have always been sane. medically.
When 1 killed White 1 may have been le-
gally insane for a few minutes, I am sane
now"
Says AIienists Were MisIed.
Thaw explained the evidence of his alien
lists at the trial by saying that in declar-
ing him insane they had been misled.
They were told" he said, that the
charges made against White were un-
true and they inferred that the charges
must be delusions."
At times the witness scored on the dis
trict attorney so palpably that the whole
court room Joined in his smile of triumph.
One characterize episode occurred when
Jerome asked Thaw to explain his hostility
to DR.. Allen McLane Hamilton, one of the
states former allenists. Thaw said he did
not know exactly why he disliked Hamil-
ton.
1T was the case Of DIR. Fell" he added.
who is Fen?" inquired Jerome in
nocently.
why don't you know?" exclaimed the
witness in real or feigned surprise. Then
he quoted the first two lines of the non
sense rhyme
II do not like you, Dr. Fell
The reason why, l cannot tell"
His Wife in Court.
Thaw's mood was not always jovial.
Questions that made the witness knit his
brows had to do with his relations with
Evelyn Nesbit before their marriage. Al
though it has been alleged that Thaw has
broken with his wife and that she is aid
ing the opposition, he showed a strong
desire today TO shield her name.
The young woman herself arrived in
court during this part OF the proceedings,
and rewarded her husbands evident con-
sideration of her feelings with several
radiant smiles. At the same time Thaw
showed strong reluctance TO having his
wife take the stand and had his attorney
invoke the privilege of confidential rela-
tions to bar her.
Susan Merrill, who was the chief witness
at Tuesdays session, was on hand today,
but did not take the stand. Thaw swore
that her most damaging statements against
him were not true. She will probably take
the stand again. The state expects to put
on its three alienists TO tell their Inn
pressions regarding Thaw's mental condi-
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