New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-04
Another AIienist TestIfIes 1t
Would Be Dangerous to
Free Whites Slayer.
LAST EXPERT FOR STATE
Physician mistaken on Cross
Examination by Shearn-
Thaw Smiles at Many
of the Replies.


the hearing on the sanity of Harry n
Thaw before Justice Keogh at Wnlte
Plains yesterday. He was the only
witness called and the last alienlst 10
testify for the state Thaw's counsel
Clearance J. Shearn. occupied almost the
entire time in Cross-eXamlnhg inc
states witness. He had not nnlsheu
when court adjourned. and said he ex-
pected the cross-examination would take
another half day of court, on Friday.
William Travers Jerome, who was APP
nointed a Special Deputy Attorney Cen
eral to conduct the case for the state
made a short direct examination OF the
witness. bringing out DR.. Macdonald
expert opinion that Thaw was an IN
durable paranoiac and would be oah-
ger to the peace and safety of the COM
rnunitv il released from Matteawan
state asvlum. Mr.. Shearn tried long
and hard TO break down the alienists
Testimony without any apparent success.
Piece by piece Thaw's counsel lnterro-
gated the witness in regard 10 the
numerous letters and memoranda con-
stituting the exhibits In the case in an
effort TO analyze the alienist's opinion or
Thsv's mental condition. He asked the
witness 10 point out the insane oelu-
sion" in each particular piece or EVIL
dence. over and over again DR.. Mac
donald testified that II would be lmpos-
sible to do so in any particular writing
taken alone, but that in connection with
other exhibits and the history OF the
case each scrap of evidence played an
important part in diagnosing ina" S
mental malady as paranoia.
LAWYER and Doctor Gross Swords.
Mr.. Shearn endeavored TO explain
awsv the indications Of persecution, eX-
aggerated ego and other symptoms OF
paranoia in Thaw's letters and notes by
assuming from the evidence that all the
so-called decisions were founded on
fact. The examination resolved itself at
tir,es into A scientific discussion of
psychiatry.
II sppeared TO be Mr.. Shearn's purpose
TO read paranoia out of the case by
process Of elimination, by discarding
each particular piece of evidence as II
came up. in which. considering II alone,
The musician expressed the opinion that
there was no real indication Of insane
delusion.
In answer to Mr.. JerOmes questions
DR.. Macdonald testified that the act of
violence connected with the dominating
delusion in paranoia sometimes relieved
the explosion Of the mind, so TO speak,
and the decisions might not be so pro-
nounced after that But it was no evil
dence of a cure. he said. Mr.. Jerome
formulated the following hypothetical
question, which he asked Or. Macdon-
aid:
Now. laying aside the testimony Of
persons other than Thaw, please con-
slider only the writings of Thaw. which
you have seen and which are in evil
dence. coupled with the testimony Thaw
gave in this and other hearings, and
your observation of Thaw at the first
trial. the hearing before Justice Morsch-
auser and the hearings at White Plains,
are you able to form an opinion as to
the present mental condition Of Thaw?"
Says Thaw Is Psranoiac.
DR.. Macdonald then gave his opinion
that Thaw was d paranoiac and would
be a dangerous person if set at large.
Mr. Shearn began his crOss-examina-
ton. He wanted to know if some evil
dences of insanity in ThaW's remote
relatives would have any bearing on a
diagnosis of paranoia in Thaw's case.
The witness said it would have some
significance in regard to heredity.
What is an insane delusion?" asked
Mr.. Shearn.
IAN insane delusion is a false belief
emanatng from a diseased mind. with
out any foundation in fact, and one
which would appear incredible to the
person having it if he were of normal
mind" DR.. Macdonald replied.
Fixed systematic decisions OF NOR
bid character, exaltation or insane van
fly was an essential symptom Of par
anoia. the witness said.
IF you find fixed, systematic decisions
of persecution are you able to diagnose
NdSt VI pal ciIipil ilbih mat Id'N
alone?" asked Mr. Shearn.
That is essential, but would not
diagnose paranoia on that fact alone"
replied DR. Macdonald. 81 would
strongly suspect paranoia. but / should
want a history Of the case"
Does the existence Of insane decisions
alone establish the fact of insanity"
asked Mr. Shearn
Il object" said Mr.. Jerome. Such a
question in itself presupposes insanity"
Shearn Turns Laugh on Jerome.
Yes, it does; you are right for once,
said Mr. Shearn, and the court attend
ants had to rap for order because Of the
laugh that followed.
In the next question MIR. Shearn
asked:
Can you determine what kind of in
sanity Thaw has by looking at his
face?"
NO" the witness replied.
Mr. Shearn wanted 10 know If Dr.
Macdonald considered it an insane de-
fusion on Thaw's part when he said he
had been told that Justice Bowling only
intended TO commit him to Matteawan
for thirty days after his second trial
DR.. Macdonald said he would consider
that an insane delusion.
Even II Justice Bowling told that TO