Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-27
EXPERTS SWEAR
THAW IS SANE
JEROME TAKES CHARGE OF
STATES CASE
WHITES SLAYER NOT VICTIM OF
PARANoIA
Chorus Girl Wife VIII Be Called If
Observation-Disclosures Says Patient
Denies Threatening Evelyn
Nesbit
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, July 26.-
Aliensts today began their slow march
across the stage in the Thaw case. The
efforts of Stanford Whites slayer to
obtain his release from the Matteawcn
asylum are eliminating in the testi-
mony of the experts called to prove
him sane, and when they are through
the prisoner will take the stand
himself.
In two respects the hearing was
reminder of Thaws two trials for kill
ing White. District Attorney Jerome
of New York, at the request of the
attorney generals office, took entire
charge of the states case. Mr.. Jerome
and Thaw sat so close together their
chairs touched but If the prisoner
had any fear of the man who prose-
cuted him, his face did not show 1t.
All but one of the witnesses were
Thaw's today, and his equanimity was
undisturbed. At times he and Mr.
Jerome chatted and smiled like old
friends reunited.
"Brainstorm" Expert Called
The other familiar feature was Dr.
Rritton d. Evans of the New Jersey
state insane asylum at Morris Palms.
famous for his introduction at the
trials of the term "brainstorm.' Dr.
Evans was on the stand when court
adjourned. lie JeSIlIleu IHdN hoS lio1
now and never has had the particular
kind of insanity known as 'paranoia,
which the state and county authorities
contend still afflicts him.
DR.. Henry Ernst Schmidt, aged 80,
qualified as an alienist, and DR.. VIM
]. Meyer testified in his capacity or
White Plains Jail physician, which
gave him numerous opportunities of
seeing and talking with the prisoner
Both said Thaw was mentally sound.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw did not come to
White Plains today. Mr.. Jerome said
she was still under subpoena and
might be called for cross-eXamination
after Thaw testifies DIR. Evans said
today that during a recent talk with
Thaw. the prisoner declared his wife s
assertion on the stand that Thaw had
threatened to kill her, was false.
Ordeal Is Severest
The severest ordeal of Thaw's strug-
gle for freedom from the Matteawan
asylum for the criminal insane was be
fore him today when Justice NILS
recommended the hearing in the SUI
preme court here at which Thaw Is
trying to show himself sane. Charles
Morschauser, his attorney. reafiirmed
his Intention of putting Thaw on the
stand to give personal PROOF OF MS
sound mental condition.
District Attorney Jerome of New
YORK was present 10 Represent 'hV
state.
Mr.. Morschauser has subpoenas for
the following alienists: DR.. William j.
Meyer, the White Plains jail physi-
cian DR.. Britton d. Evans OF Morris
Plains, the colner of the term brain
Storm" and DR.. II. Ernst Schmidt of
White Plains.
Expert testimony began with the first
witness, DIR. Schmidt.
DR.. Schmidts conclusion after numer-
Gus examinations of Thaw In White
Plains was that his condition, both
mental and physical, was normal, ex-
cepting his heart which beat trit1e
too fast. 80
Paranoia, the kind of insanity with
which the authorities allege Thaw is
afflicted, was discussed by the witness,
who said there were varieties of this
disease from which the patient might
recover.
Questions Expert
on eros -examination District Attor-
ney Jerome plunged at once into the
scientific aspects of paranoia. AS Mr..
Jerome questioned DIR. Schmidt Thaw,
sitting so close that at times their
elbows almost touched, studied the dis
trict attorney calmly and with an ex-
preston of great interest. Mr.. Jerome
questioned DR.. Schmidt for more than
an hour, paying particular attention to
Whites private life. The witness said
Thaw had discussed this subject with
him, but he did not consider it's bearing
important on the question of Thaw's
mental condition.
During his REORGANIZATION Mr..
Jerome asked DIR. Schmidt
"You say now that this man Is fit, in
your opinion, to be turned loose in this
community without any restraint
whatever"
II do" replied DR.. Schmidt.
In the afternoon session various rec
ords of Thaw's second trial were pre-
scented by Clifford w. Hartridge,
Thaw's former counsel
Objects to Procc dure
Mr.. Morschauser objected to this pro-
ceeding on the ground that the wit
ness relations with Thaw were conf
Dental, and after some argument the
papers were received, but not read ut
this time. They included report by
DR.. Brltton d. Evans, one of the alien
lists employed by the defense during
the trial of Thaw on the charge of
murder.
The examination OF Hartridge, who
was called by Jerome, indicated the
exhibits he held included certain Gin
struments."
on account of Attorney Morschaus-
er's objections Justice Mills directed
the witness to retire to an ante-room
and wrap his exhibits in paper, which
would conceal their nature. He reap
peared with a package about two feet
long and three inches in diameter,
which he turned over to the clerk.
Mr. Hartridge said this mysterious
exhibit was given to him in the pres
ence of two women, one of them Susan
Merrill, a New York lodging house
keeper Dr. William J. Meyer, physl-
clan at the White Plains Jail. was then
called by Thaw's attorney, but not as
an expert.