The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-18
ditions and the shameful circum.
Stances" So near like u well-known
below as 20 be altogether startling.
SCIENCE ON SALE.

A disgusting scene Is shown TO th,
American public in the contest oi
Harry Thaw TO get out OF the MGttea
wan Asylum in New York. where h'
was seat on his plea OF insanity sfte.
his trial for the murder of architec,
White.
The specially disgusting feature OF
this hearing is that alienists on pre-.
eisely the same statement OF facts and
description Of symptoms, give directly
opposite views as 20 the state of mind
of Thaw, Those retained by Thaw will
give their opinion, as they seem 10
think their retainer obliges them 10 do,
in Thaw's favor. declaring him sane;
those employed by the State upouali.
| fiediv pronounce Thaw 20 be insane.
| IL is told that in all the mother Of
Harry Thaw, has spent $4,000 for the
| pay OF these expert alienists who are
renowned for their assumed knowledge
edge as to the condition of man 5
mind, as drawn from examinations
and from given statements of facts and
conditions; and they become her par
tisans, testifying as she desires. The
fact that alienists who are employed
by Mrs. Thaw. and are thus influenced,
pronounce after full examination and
consideration of all the evidence, that
Thaw is sane, is discreditable to their
characters. in so far as any science may
he involved in the testimony they give,
so far rs their Judgment is swaycd by
money. Ii there IL indeed science in
the matter, and expert knowledge. that
knowledge and the conclusion there.
from should he alike, whether the ex
pert is employed for or against the
defendant; but we find in every case
that the judgment OF the alienist goes
for the side which employs him.
An interesting question necessarily
arises thereupon. Is testimony sup
posed to be expert, really expert, when
1t takes the line of interest in place
of the line OF scientific knowledge and
Judgment? Should an expert be given
credit as an expert when he simply
determines in accordance with the
direction from which his pay comes?
It is certain that the facts Of science
cannot be bought. Scientific facts are
facts, without any question of money,
but an expert in giving Judgment upon
those facts it appears. is not an expert
at all. unless the pay he gets comes
from the side whose cause comedies |
with scientific judgment. II the pay
comes from the side which is against |
science, the expert is seen to form his |
Judgment according to his paw, and |
not according to the scientific facts in
Inc case.
1t is sad reflection upon science to
see science prostituted in this way by
,hose who claim TO be its experts, and
,wo reflections naturally arise in such
4 case as this; first. that when a mur-
lerer is found to be insane, victim
If homicidal mania, it is dangerous TO
,llow such person to be at large; and
IN his plea of insanity. when he is
,ried for murder. he should be SEN
enced to detention in an asylum for
|
8 an admitted fact that one who is q
'ictim Of homicidal mania is never
ured, but that mania is liable to break
orth at any time, and result in the
lilling Of other people. although the
may lie dormant for years.
t is always perilous TO allow the
riminally insane to be at large. Ore
ION has Just had an illustration of this
'cril. A man who was sent to the
sylum for criminal insanity was held
or time, then examined. pronounced
o be sane. and turned loose Soon
he killed another person.
nd doubtless will again be sent to the
sylum for the insane This time he
hould be sent in for life, without any
quivocatiou or hope for relief, and
uch should be the case always in cases
ike this. and emphatically so in the
'haw case