New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-30
THAW RATIONAL,
THREE ALIENISTS
SWEAR AT TRIAL
Champagne Caused Him
to Kill White, Says One
Witness for Defence.
HIS REGRETS SHOW
SANITY, IS CLAIM
SLAYER Smiles When Jerome'S
Remarks on "Heredltary
faint" Are Read.

While the corps Of alienists for the
state who are to testify against Harry
X. Thaw gathered in force yesterday
three witnesses swore that the slayer
of Stanford White was sane. The case
was continued before Justice HendrlcA
and Jury in the Supreme Court IN
the effort to determine the present
mental condition Of Thaw.
Dr. A. W. Ferris former president of
the State Comm sSiou in Lunacy, and
Dr. William liirsch sat at q SINAI! table
behind Thaw's seat win Dr. Carlos J..
Macdonald and Dr.. Austin Flint, who
have attended every session faithfully.
Mrs. Mary Copcly Thaw was back IN
her accustomed char near the jury
box again.
DR.. Charles p. Bancroft, superin-
tendent of the New Hampshire Hospital
for the Insane, took the stand again at
the openinR Of coure, and was cross
examined by Deputy Attorney General
Frank X. Cook. He was a member OF
the commission appointed by Federal
Judge Aldrich in Concord, n. H.. which
declared Thaw sane and had him ad-
mitted to bail.
Questioned about the findings Of that
commission, the witness said:
1--WE were convinced that Thaw had
overindulged in champagne and had
lost control of himself at the time OF
the shooting"
"Then you believe Thaw never was
insane" asked Mr.. Cook.
Saws Regrets Prove Sanity.
Eyes. There was another reason that
led us to conclude that he was not q
paranoiac- has expressed regret.
4. I'M a
il always feels that an act committed
is justified. Mr. Thaw's regret APP
pears sincere"
did not the public manner in which
White was killed suggest paranoia to
you ?" asked Mr.. Cook.
NO" replied DR.. Bancroft, Il know
of fully as many acts committed by
paranoacs in private as in public,
"Has heredity a great iniuence|
"That depends upon the degrees OF
heredity and the cause of antecedent
heredity."
In speaking Of the homicide, DR..
Bancroft said
"The act itself appears to be a pas
sionate, impulsive act, growing out OF
anger, jealousy and a final combination
Of influences that disturbed Mr.. Thaw's
mind He had grounds for anger and
jealousy for a long time. They were
not the result Of his mental state. lie
knew for a fact that Mr.. White had
been brought up against him IN these
unpleasant ways through his wife. Al
ter on extended period Of dissipation
he sud lenly lost control of himself
After the examination OF the
witness the defence began the redirect
examination. Questioned by Abel /.
RopcvOft said he
amined Thaw for three hours before
testifving in order to convince himself
that his view Of sanity was still cor
rect.
Jeromcs Words Retold.
The long summing up of William
Travers Jerome in the second Ihaw
trial was then read by Mr.. Smith. 1t
dealt mainly with the alleged "heredl-
tary faint" in Thaw. While it was be-
ing read Thaw said with smile to one
of the reporters: This is an example
of extremely good language by Mr.
Jerome
81 understood you to say that you
thought Thaw was never insane
asked Mr. Cook, taking up the re-
direct examination.
81 found no evidence Of H." an-
swered DR.. Bancroft.
"Then you disagree with tho Thaw
alienist who testified at the first and
second trials?"
ave didn't take that into consider
alton, but formed an independent
judgment"
and YOU were sitting on q com
mission paid by the Thaw interest"
yes"
"Are YOU in Thaw's employ now"
81 am employed by Mr.. Thaw's
counsel"
Next on the stand was DR.. D. Percy
Hickling, of Washington, president Of
the American Society of Medical
Jurisprudence, alienist FOR the District
of Columbia and clinical professor of
mental diseases in the government
hospital for the insane.
lie testified that he made thor
ough examination Of Thew in Mattea-
wan on March 20, 1913, and again on
November Is and 16, 1915, at Concord,
n. H., and again last Sunday in New
York. DR.. Tickling said he had ex-
plored Thaw's mentality. that ne had
examined his comprehension and men,