Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-13
THAW SHOWS NO SIGNS
OF BEING A PARAh0|AC
Justice Hendrick Brings Out Dam
aging Admissions From States
Chief Alienist.
EVIDENCE CAUSES SENSATION
Unless It's Effect Is Countcracted on
Redirect Examination, Generally
Conceded That Liberation of Stan
ford Whites Slayer Is Certainty.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch.1

Especial to The Times Dispatchl
NEW YORK. July l2.-Dr. Austin
Flint. called "a the States chief ex-
pert in the Thaw habeas corpus pro-
ceedings late this afternoon. admitted
mat Thaw has given no evidence dur
ing the present jury trial on his san
itN OF being paranoac. and that there
mas been nothing in Thaw's manner
on the witness stand that would indi-
cate TO layman that he is not sane
justice licndrick brought out these
damaging admissions in n series of
questions put to the expert while he
was under REORGANIZATION. They
ieli with staggering effect upon the
states representatives. and 1t was
generally conceded that unless the eff
feet Of DR.. Flinrs testimony is count
eractcd on redirect examination,
Ihhw's liberation is certainty
DIR. Flint was asked this question
by Justice Hendrick:
has Thaw given any evidence here
on me witness stand OF being a para
nOiac?"
He has not" was the reply. amid
buzz of surprise in the crowded
courtroom.
The question being repeated In an
other form. the witness replied:
He has given Indications Of moth
ing on the witness stand that would
De evidence TO a layman that he was
not sane"
Again. Justice Hendrick asked:
hat way Is there for a layman
to determine whether this man has
paranoiac save from the opinions Of
the experts on one aide or the other"
No other way" wae the reply.
SEEKS TO PIERCE MAZE
OF TECHNICALITIES
And once more Justice Hendrick.
seeking to pierce the maze of netlico,
legal technicalities. asked:
mas there been anything here that
"ouid lndlcate to YOU an alienist
II you did not know the history Of the
case. that he is paranoiac?"
Nothing" said DR.. Flint
The witness declared he had Judged
Thaw from his family history and the
entire record of the case The question
OF Ihaw's sanity, he insisted was one
for alienists alone to decide. and that
laymen would have to decide it on their
faith In the alienists
Continuing. he admitted that Thaw
has shown no delusons of grandeur.
and again, in response to an illumi-
mating question from Justice Hendrick
ne conceded that II Thaw had heard.
as he did from his counsel and others
than an effort was being made to send
him to jail, that the Monk Eastman
gang was after him. and that Jerome
admitted the existence of the house
with the velvet swing. his belief in
these things could not properly be
classed as decisions.
AS one spectator remarked, DR.. Flint
seemed to torpedo his own case
Thaw. who took dinner at the Park
Avenue Hotel tonight, after this, his
most successful day in court, was jubi-
liant over the admissions that were
forced from his ancient enemy, Flint,
by Stanchfeld, his chief counsel.
He sat and watched Flint through
a portion OF the raking fire OF cross
questioning, and frequently laughed
outright at the doctors discontinue.
Then he turned to other matters, and
at the minute that DR.. Flint was re-
cording his firm belief that Thaw was
suffering from paranoia, the incurable
form of insanity. Thaw was studying
closely road map of the United States,
on which is outlined the direct route
by motor across the continent TO San
Francisco. He looked up curiously,
smiled, and turned again to the map
What are your plans II you are
freed?" he was asked.
IF my counsel leave me any money"
was the reply, II Will first spend a
few days In Pittsburgh, and then buy
an automobile and make the trip
across the continent to the exposition"
DR.. Flints cross-examination Will be
continued tomorrow morning Stanch-
field will in all probability Hnish with
him in an hour. after which the re-
naming State experts will be disposed
of rapidly. Stanchheld declared to-day
that he would be ready to sum up to-
morrow It is altogether possible.
therefore. that the case will go to the
jury tomorrow night or early We'd
nesday morning.
The court corridors buzzed with
humors as to the future to-day. In