The Detroit times., 1909-07-29
.THAM SAYS HE
WILL co FREE
II Am Satisfied I Can Prove I Am
Sane" He Declared-Defeats
Jerome in Battle Of Wits.

WHITE PLAINS. N. Y. July 20
A sane man and legally insane man
fought a battle of wits here yesterday
afternoon and the insane" man won
Jubilant over the successes OF yester-
day. Harry Thaw faced his ancient
enemy, William Travers Jerome today,
eager TO continue the ordeal
Everyone who saw Thaw and heard
his testimony Is astounded at the
ready wit and keen logic Of the in
sane" man. His relatives and counsel
are enthusiastically certain that his
release Is but q matter OF days.
Jerome, however, entered the court
room with three bags Of documents to-
day. prepared to keep up the battle.
Yesterday Jerome was SO astound-
ed by the mental poise of Thaw that
he begged the witness to submit TO a
private examination by alienists. Thaw
insisted the public examination pro-
coed.
Thaw has indicated that his attitude
toward the charges of perverted prac-
tees, made by Mrs. Susanna Merrill.
will be a total denial. He has al
ready said the same charges we're
made by others In an attempt to
=.
blackmail him.
Jerome said today:
my examination Of Harry X. Thaw
has Just begun. | propose to question
him closely on every detail Of his
trials for the killing OF Stanford
White and. II necessary on every de-
tail OF the 3S years of his life. shall
settle, once and for all. the question
Of his sanity II l have to keep him on
the stand for a week"
Thaw said:
Up am confident I can withstand any
cross examination Of Jerome. Yester-
day proved that, think. l don't care
how long he keeps me there. am
satisfied can prove to Justice Mills
that am absolutely sane. This 10
my first opportunity to do something
for myself In my battle for life and
liberty which has lasted for three
years and | am glad to get It.
Women Crowd Courtroom.
Despite the broiling heat the court
room was packed with women. JUS
tice Mills before opening court warn
ed the spectators that there must be
no more applause as on yesterday.
Attorney Morschauser recalled Cliff
ford Hartridge, who was under sub
pena 10 produce the books which Mrs.
Merrill claims she gave him to show
how she paid vast sums as hush
money" 10 200 girls. Hartrldge said
he had made a careful search for the
books, but. had been unable to md
them. Morschauser then gave up his
attempt to get the books and began
questioning Hartridge about his suit
se4fnsr Mrs. AThaws'for 3126,o00s .coun-
sci fees. That $126.00o also covered
expenses" Hartridge claims he In
Cured. He said the books were not
important In that suit. Jerome then
asked Hartridge for certain writings
OF Thaw. given by the prisoner to
Hartridge when he was acting as
Thaw's counsel Morschauser object
ed on the ground that they were privi-
legged communications between coun-
sci and client. but Justice Mills al
lowed them to be marked for identin-
cation. pending his decision as TO
their admissibility. These writings.
Jerome limited. concerned the charges
that Mrs. Merrill makes about the use
OF a dog whip on girls by Thaw.
Books Were Destroyed.
Jerome then asked about the miss
ing Merrill books, and Hartridge ad-
mitted they might have been destroy
ed Jerome asked their contents.
They were statements OF money
expended for me by Mrs. Merrill"
"Your own money!"
Morschauser objected and was sus-
tanned
Jerome then tried to make Hart
ridge admit Thaw authorized the pay
ment. but the best he.could get was
a reluctant statement from Hartr1dge
that Thaw had written to him on the