Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-13
Defendants Attorney Tries to
Break Down States Chief
AIienist's Testimony.
PRISONER SPENDS Time
PLANNING AUTO TRIP
Counsel Hopes That the Case Can Go
to the Jury Observation-Disclosures
Nearly All In.

NEW YORK, July 13.-Dr. Austin
Flint. the first of the states alienists
to testify in the sanity trial of Harry
X. Thaw. was under cross-eXamination
by Thaw's counsel today. When court
adjourned yesterday he was being
questioned closely as to his reasons
for the belief that Thaw is now IN
sane. 1t was expected that several
hours would be devoted today to this
line of inquiry and to a discussion OF
the form of paranoia from which ne
said Thaw is suffering.
The state had one or more other
alienists ready to testify before the
evidence in rebuttal should begin.
Counsel for both sides hoped that the
case would be in the hands of the jury
by tomorrow. Meantime Thaw spends
most of his time while in court select
ing the route of the automobile trip he
hopes to take to the Panama-Pacitic
exposition if set free.
DR.. Flint Carefully Questioned.
John B. Stanchfield, chief counsel for
Thaw, closely questioned DR.. Flint to-
day apparently with the idea of show
ing if possible that he was mistaken
yesterday when he declared that con-
stitutional inferiority with a paranoiac
trend, which he described Thaw as hav-
ing, was designation adopted by the
medical profession within the past TWO
years.
Flint is member of the board, showed
that the institution recognized the
term as early as 1908 and that further
constitutional inferiority was a ms
which was read to the jury. stated that
eighteen out of twenty-one patents
suffering from constitutional lnferlorlty
recovered.
DR.. Flint said he was willing to drop
the paranoiac trend and the constltu-
tional inferiority qualifications in his
diagnosis of Thaw and call him pure
paranoiac.
DR., Flint Calls Thaw Insane.
DR.. Flint yesterday afternoon gave 1t
as his opinion, on direct examination
that Thaw was suffering with para
noia or constitutional inferiority with
MANY times he had seen Thaw since
1906 He said he had observed ThaW s
appearance during the various tlneS
he has been in court, and that ne hao
paid particular attention to his man
ner actions and demeanor on the VIII
ness stand during the present proceed
ings-
have YOU been able to reach an opinion
as to his sanity" DR.. Flint was asked.
II have" replied the alienist. L
think he is insane"
On cross-examination he said he did
not know what constitutional in
feriority'' meant, but that he had used
the term, which he described as being
new, because he thought it applica Bile.
John b. Stanchfield, chief counsel
for Thaw. commended that there had
been testimony to show that Thaw
lived a normal life in New Hampshire
Flint declared this was not inconsistent
with his theory that Thaw was
paranoiac.
Answering Judge Hendricks inquiry
how layman could determine whether
Thaw was a paranoiac. the witness
thought the layman would have to
make his choice between whose
alienist he would believe"
Has Thaw shown here in court any
evidences of paranoia?" Mr. Stanchfield
asked"
Doesn't Act sanely.'
81 don't think he has" DIR. Flint
stated. only to me he does not act
like a sane man"
DIR. Flint went on to explain that he
did not think Thaw was a prosecuted
sions of persecution. In this disease.
he added. the decisions change from
year to year.
but there were no indications while
Stanchfield asked.
+No indication that would be evident
from what he said?" the witness re-
piled
eff you didn't know his history"
Judge Hendrick interrupted to ask,
would you think him paranoiac
from the indications he has given
here
"No." DIR. Flint answered.
DIR. Flint as an alienist has been iden-
titled with several previous proceed
ings against and instituted in behalf
of the slayer of Stanford White. He
told the cross-examiner he was a MEM
Der of the American Medico-Psycho-
logical Society. which had promulgated
a rule that it is improper for a person
who had acted an expert to become
witness in the same case, Then, in
reply to questions, he said he fire.
auentiy had been in conference with
the attorneys for the state. and that
Deputy Attorney General Cook was at
his home Sunday night.
According to DIR. Flint, Thaw is not
and never was suffering from nlaniacal
Oppressive insanity. The alienist de-
ciared IL he had been sent to Mat
teawan for that he was incarcerated
for an ailment he did not possess. He
said he did not consider paranoia
durable.