The sun., 1912-07-04
DR.. MACDONALD SAYS
THAW IS STILL CRAZY
Last Of the states AlicniSt>
Backs Up the Two
Others.
TILT BETWEEN LAWYERS
Court Hasn't Decided Whether
He Will Require Them
I" SUM p.

NuiTE PLAINS. July =. DR.. Carlos +.
Macdonald. the alienist. was n witness
for the State at the combination of the
hearing before supreme Court Justice
Eeogh as to the prcsen, mental condition
Of Harry x. Thaw All Of the day was
taken ,ip hy his examination by william L.
jerome. representing the Attorney Gen
erals Office and his cross-examination
by Clarence J. Shearn. counsel for Thaw.
Dr. Macdonald testified that Thaw is
still insane and that his brain trouble il
incurable. DIR. Macdonald is the last
expert to be called by the State. On
Friday Mr. Shearn will begin trying to
prove that Thaw is not IA paranoiac. He
has three insanity experts who will swear
that Thaw is not insane now.
DO YOU believe paranoia to be in
curablc?" Mr.. Jerome asked DR.. Mac
Donald.
81 have never heard Of a cure.
"Cpon what constitutional basis does
paranoia occur?"
"On tho basis of unstable mentality due
to heredity and influences some time
during early childhood.
Did you go to Matteawan recently and
did you see Thaw?"
Il went there as one Of the commits
sioners appointed by the State to examine
the institution for the criminal insane and
to learn if there were any patients in con-
6ncment who were not insane"
On April H. 1911. DR.. Macdonald said,
while he was passing through the ward
where Thaw was confined the patient said
to him. Il refuse to be examined by your
committee. Here is "A letter | would like
TO have you present TO the committee"
Mr.. Jerome submitted the following
question:
Laying aside any testimony of any
persons other than Thaw himself, please
consider only the writings of Thaw which
you have seen and which are IN evidence
indorsed. coupled with the testimony
that you have heard Thaw give in this
and other hearings and your ohserva-
tions of Thaw at his first trial, the hear
ings before Justice Morschauser and the
hearings at White Plains and your OBJ
servations of him at Matteawan and on
the stand here are you able to form an
opinion as to the present sanity or
insanity Of Thaw?"
DR.. Macdonald answered tha, in his
OPINION Ihaw IS insane anc suffering from
that form of insanity known as paranoia
and that his rele.se from the ASYLUM
would be dangerous to others
DIR. Macdonald said that some of the
Thaw letters contained delusional IDEAS.
but refused to say he thought that the
wording OF the letters taken alone. with
out "A knowledge of the history of the
case. showed dclusion. Taken with a
knowledge Of the history of the cas-
all were delusional
IF Thaw believed all the things that
were told him about White and others
hsAf In DALI, 4
Of insanity" asked Mr.. Shearn.
Not standing alone but taken with
the history of the case. it was delusional."
replied the witness.
DR.. Macdonald said that the fact that
Thaw had an idea that il, was his mission
70 break up the alleged practices of White
and when he failed to induce Comstock
and Others to act took the matter in his
own hands showed deluson.
When The letter referring to the s,lp-
posed death of Ethel Thomas and the
affidavit in Hummel's Office were read
Mr.. Jerome warned Mr.. Shean that if
the latter went into the affidavit matter
he tJerome' would open up the whole
history of the case in that particular
connection.
THAT will not come ont if have any,
thing to do with it" interposed Justice
Keogh.
Referring to certain letters written by
Ihaw in the Tombs Mr.. Shearn said that
jerome had them and added: II am
not as close to Hartridge as the other
side"
"The statement is false. deliberately
false. and he knows il is false when he
makes it," declared Mr.. Jerome. "The
letters did not come from Hartridge."
Before the adjournment Jerome asked
Justice keogh if counsel would sum IN
at the finish. apparently expecting "A
negative reply.
1T would be a pleasure To hear YOU.
SIR" said the court. II will decide Inn
matter later, however NAV let Won
write something. such as detailed ref
erence."
The hearing was adjourned until Friday
morning