Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1912 — JEROME WEAKENS H. K. THAWS CASE [ARTICLE]

JEROME WEAKENS H. K. THAWS CASE

Brings Out Unfavorable Points as to His Sanity. EXPERT ALIENISTS ON STAND VNumber of Witnesses Testify That They Believe Slayer of Stanford White Is Sane and Rational. New York, June 18.—Harry K. Thaw's prospects of being released from Matteawan on the ground that he is now sane, looks very dubious after the first day’s session of his latest fight for freedom, which began before Justice Keogh at White Plains. W illiam Travers Jerome, who twice prosecuted Stanford White’s slayer for the crime itself and twice later prevented his being set at liberty, was again the master es the situation. Alienists Say Thaw Is Sane. The former district attorney got one of the expert alienists, Dr. William A. White, head of the government asylum for the insane at Washington, to swear that in his belief that Thaw not only is sane now, but never was insane Then Jerome confronted Doctor White with a stvorn statement he made at the first trial to the effect that Thaw was absolutely insane when he shot White. Another alienist, Dr. Royal A. Leak of the Matteawan asylum, was obliged to admit that Thaw has “constitutional inferiority” from which there is no recovery, and that "constitutional inferios” are one in ten paranoiacs and that they are apt to commit homicide while influenced by alcoholic or other excitement. These admissions seemed to more than counterbalance Doctor Leak’s assertion that Thaw is, despite bis weakness, sane«. Charge Witness Is Hidden.

There were other unfavorable points brought out by Jerome. There was a charge by him that the Thaw interests are hiding Susan Merrill, an important state witness. But in spite of the*turn of things Thaw remained as cheerful and hopeful as ever. He is relying on winning his own battle when he takes the stand, although twice previously Jerome has been the victor in their duels. He is going to let his attorney, Clarence J. Sbearn, conduct his case and will not interfere as he has always done before.

Former Gov. W. A. Stone of Pennsylvania, who represents the Thaw family in civil affairs, testified that he had interviews with Harry on business matters and found him perfectly rational and competent. Harry Aids Wooster University. President L. E. Holder of Wooster university in Ohio, said he was an old friend of the Thaw family; that Harry had given him SI,OOO when his college building was burned and that recently he had visited the young man six times and thought him perfectly rational. Dr. H. Ernest Schmidt, a practicing physician in White Plains for 50 years and recognized as an expert for Bloomingdale. also considered Thaw perfectly sane.