The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-07-15
THAW TO
AID HER HUSBAND
viii Take Stand in Sanity Hear
ing To-day.
EXPERTS Will BE CALLED
Prosecutor Makes Big Concession in
Favor Of Observation-Disclosures De-
clare 'Slayer's Actions and Con-
versations Are Rational.

White Plains, N. Y, July 49, II
counsel can agree, commission of
three alienists, mutually selected, will
pass upon the question of Harry
Thaw's sanity. This was practically
decided at continuation of the hear
ing before Justice Mills in which coun-
sci for Stanford Whites slayer is try
ing to establish his right to release
from the asylum for the criminal in
sane at Matteawan.
With all of the testimony in favor
of Thaw and with the indication that
his wife, Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, will
take the stand in his behalf, with Dis.
trict Attorney William Travers Je.
rome eliminated, Thaw's chances for
release appear, brighter than at any
time since his commitment.
Prosecutor Makes Big Concession.
After a string of witnesses who tes-
titled to 'Thaw's soundness of mind
had taken the stand, Roger Clark,
deputy attorney general, who is con-
Quoting the peoples case, informed
the court that he had been so much
impressed by Thaw''s intelligent inter
est in the issues at stake that he was
willing to concede Thaw's right to q
full and impartial examination He
suggested that counsel for Thaw and
counsel for the people agree to a com.
mission of three expert alienists
whose decision should be accepted by
both parties to the suit without reser.
vations or equivocations. Charles
Morschauser, for Thaw, was agreeable
and asked that DR.. Baker, superintend.
ent of the state asylum and DIR. Austin
Flint be named as two of the three.
Justice Mills favored the sugges.
ton for commission but. was of the
opinion that the state ought to name
two Of the three experts. With that ex'
ception, he left. the personnel of the
commission to be determined by joint
counsel.
Mrs. Thaw on, Stand To-day.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, who has been
living in retirement of late, may take
the stand to-day. She has abandoned
vacation plans, it is. announced, to, ap-
pear for her husband, The testimony
heard from iailers, inn-keeperS real
estate dealers, clergymen, dentist
and a reporter-all called by Thaw,
was uniformly in his favor. Witnesses
related conversations with him on mu.
sic, dogs, cigars, literature, electricity,
geology, prison life, sport, religion and
the personality of the late pope, Leo
XIII. A Waterman learned from Thaw
that the Stone Age should be placed
some 500 years back. An inn-keeper
thought Thaw perfectly sane except
that on one occasion he refused the
witness invitation to take a drink
with him. He admitted under cross
examination that he had known ra
tional persons to decline a drink.
Witnesses Tell Of Conversations.
Richard H. Lansing, a real estate
dealer of Poughkeepsie, testified that
he had conversed with the plaintiff on
variety of subjects at different times
and that Thaw had always appeared
coherent and rational. ,....... ~.
Oscar Mulford, another citizen Of
PoHghkeepsie, who formerly. was D
Waterman at the Duchess county jail,
testified that Thaw's actions and con
versation were sane. sN .s@
e#"'' Priest Also Testifies.
Rev. Father Luke j. Evers, pastor
of st. Andrews Roman Catholic
church in New York and chaplain t,i
the Tombs prison, told of various
conversations with the prisoner IN the
Tombs prior TO his commitment to
Matteawan Father Evers said Thaw
displayed a broad knowledge of the
criminal law and the history of the
church in his conversations with him
John j. Hanley, assistant warden at
the Tombs while Thaw was there
also gave testimony favorable to the
prisoner.