New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-13
THAW NOW ACTS
SANELY,DR.FLINT
ADMITS TOCOURT
Showed No Signs of Para
noia on Witness Stand,
Says Alienist.
MERRILL BOOK BASIS
OF INSANITY OPINION
Wouldn't Think Prisoner De-
mented if He Had Not Known
History of Case.

DR.. Austin Flint was on the stand yes
terday, swearing that Harry X. Thaw
was a hopeless paranoiac. Thaw had
watched him for a time, and then, as
if convinced his old enemy could do his
case no harm. resumed his study of the
automobile maps by which he was fig
uring out the motor trip to the Pan
ama-Pacitc Exposition he expects 70
start the latter part of the week
John B. Stanchfeld was peppering
away at Flint with a small fire Of
cross-examination, which seemed to be
getting the doctor into distress on his
theories as to why he believed Thaw
would be a menace to the public unless
sent back to Matteawan. Then sud
denly the court broke in with a fusil-
lade of heavier calibre questions.
The doctor bore up bravely for a
time under this fire. The courts ques-
tons had to do with what importance
Dr.. Flint attached to the story of Mrs.
Susan Merrill in forming his opinion
that Thaw is a paranoiac. Mrs. Mer-
rill on the witness stand last week
testified that Thaw used to beat girls
in a room in her fiat until they bled
Alienist Is Agitated.
Does the Merrill woman's testimony
enter as basis of your conclusion that
Thaw is a paranoiac or not?' Justice
Hendrick asked
Certain parts of it do" replied the
doctor.
What part of her testimony do you
think is true and what part false-you
say part of it is false-what part is
true >" the court went on. "Is it the
rart you find necessary to adopt in or
der to base on it your theory of para
noia-is that the only part you
adopt"
There was sudden stifening Of at
tention at this question. Thaw at once
lost interest in his maps and looked at
the court for a moment as II taken
aback. and then watched DR.. Flint with
q smile. DR.. Flint answered the Ques-
tion with a somewhat aGitated but new
ertheless positive at is not
"WeU." went on the court, tell us
what part of the Merrill woman's tes-
timony you say is true and what IS
false" nj, 49,,
bracing himself in his chair, "the tes-
tjmonv about Thaw's hagellating GER
tain Young women.
"Whv do YOU accept that as true and
say the rest is false" the court in
sisted. "By what is that part corrobo-
rated?"
"Corroborated by Hartridge.'
Tt was corroborated by Mr.-Mr.-
Hartridce-not very we'll" the doctor
said haltinoly. u-.,.,...-
.tir,onv as true" Judge Hendrlck said
in obvious surprise.
!" ~ think | do" said Flint. 81 do not
think it. .., 90
Interrupted the Justice.
"Bv the history of Sadism.' said the
"In what way?" said the Justice.
"Fxniain to US in the history Of Sadism
n,bot makes YOU accept this Merrill
womans testimony against Ina" as
- did not say that accepted 1T all
&C true, but accepted her statement
that certain girls were hageIlated III
his anartment," said the doctor.
.,Tbot is what | am getting at eN-
sctlv." said the justice. whose patience
seemed TO be getting exhausted. w nat
i there in any part OF the testimony
connected with this case that leads you
- believe that part of the MerrllIs
woman's testimony when YOU reject
other parts as false"
Gives His Reasons.
"Tbe reasons are the following saId
,bo doctor; "She has drawn IN her
tns+imonv and in her book perfect
soiontifc history of Sadism, which IN
NV oninion it would be impossible for
bor 70 construct out Of whole c-oth;
which in nv opinion it would be lmpoS,
sibie for a physician TO construct ana
,.bicb in nv opinion II would be I'M
noesible for any one except one VINO
t,os made a study of Sadism to con
We'll. that book was written SIX
wears after the facts, was II not. sald
Continued on page 8. column