Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-29

..
K Thaw's fate lay in his own hand
today For six hours he occupied thu
witness stand, while District Attorne,
Jerome, the man who tried to send hin
to prison, and who once previousl.
thWarted an effort to release him from
a criminal insane asylum, delved int;
his life history. Thaw emerged credit
ably from the ordeal. Whatever Je
rome and his alienists may make o
the examination to the eye and ear o.
the layman Stanford Whites slayer
showed no signs of insanity on ths
stand today.
Tonight, Thaw, the members of hi:
family and his retinue of attorneys
and experts were unanimous in theil
opinion that he has proved his fitness
to be at large. His friends believe
that if he acquits himself in the future
as well as today, Justice Mills will
have no choice but to grant his appli-
cation for release from Matteawan.
But Thaw's ordeal is not over. He
will remain on the witness stand to-
morrow and perhaps day longer. Tho
states alienists believe that if he is
insane he will be more likely to betray
himself toward the end, when Wearied
by Jeromes continued hammering
Neither Thaw or district attorney
displayed anything but the utmost
good nature today Frequently the
dialogue resembled the chat of friends
at an afternoon tea. Sometimes Thaw
thought he had scored a point and
smiled with the keenest enjoyment
The smile was always reflected on the
face Of his white haired mother, whu
sat in court throughout the day with
the other members of the Thaw fami-
ly. Before he took the stand, ThaW
kissed her on the cheek and frequent
ly at critical points in the examinat ton
he shot a reassuring glance in her di-
rection.
jerome today stroVe to establish
Thaw's insanity mainly on his alleged
Authorizations regarding Stanford
Whites treatment of young girls. Time
and again he asked the witness own
opinion of his mental state. Thaws
replies in substance We're:
II have always been sane, medically
When l killed White, l may have been
legally insane for a few minutes.
am sane now"
Three years confinement does not
seem to have embittered Thaw. Today
he expressed regret for certain of the
more unspeakable charges which he
made in his will against the man he
killed. Although frequently quoted in
the past as not regrettlng his deed, he
declared he sometimes felt regret, al
though any feelings or remorse and
horror diminished, he added, by the
strain of the continued legal squabbine
of the past three years.
At times the witness scored on the
district attorney so palpably that the
whole court room joined in his smile
of trump. Nothing pleased him more
than the chance to correct Jerome on
some minor detail of the evidence OF
past legal proceedings which he hac
at his tongues end. One characteristic
episode occurred when Jerome asked
Thaw to explain his hostility to DR.
Allan McIane Hamilton, one of the
states alenists.
Thaw said he did not know exactly
" by he disliked Hamilton. 1t was like
the case of DIR. Fell, he added.
who is Fell?" inquired jerome in
nocently.
why don't you know" exclaimed
the witness in real or feigned surprise
Then he Quoted the first two lines o.
the nonsense rhyme:
II do not like you, DR.. Fell,
"The reason why, l cannot tell"
Thaws mood was not always jovial
lie gave the first signs of worry when
the district attorney returned later e
his dislike of DR.. Hamilton and asked
a number of questions evidently de-
signed to show that Thaw's prejudice
was something violent and abnormal
Another line of questions that made
the witness knit his brows had to dc
with his relations with Evelyn Nesbi
before their marriage. Although 1t has
been alleged that Thaw has broker
with his wife and that she is aiding
the opposition, h eshowed a strong de
sire today to shield her name. The
Young woman herself arrived in thu
court room during this part of the ex
animation and rewarded her husband!
evident consideration for her feelings
with several radiant smiles. At thu
same time Thaw showed strong reluct
ance to letting his wife take the stant
and had his attorney invoke the priv
lege of confidential relations to bar her
Susan Merrill, who was the chief wit
ness at Tuesdays session, was in cour
today, but did not take the stand
Thaw swore that he most damaging
charges against him were untrue. Sh
will probably take the stand agail
later The state also expects to put OF
it's three alienists to tell their impress
sion regarding Thaw's mental condi
ton after hearing him testify.
White Plains, N. Y, July 2S.-Harry K
Thaw turned to kiss his aged mothe
today as he strobe firmly to the stan
to attempt to prove by his own word