Page:The Great Harry Thaw Case.djvu/135

 that he had made three separate examinations of her husband shortly after the murder, and on each occasion found him insane. He swore:

"Thaw exhibited delusions of a personal character, an exaggerated ego, and, along with them delusions of a persecutory character. He thought himself of exaggerated importance and believed himself persecuted by a number of persons."

By an "exaggerated ego," Dr. Evans said he meant "a disproportionate idea of importance of self, a belief that one is clothed with powers, capacity and ability far above normal or above those actually possessed."

These symptoms, he said, were characteristic of several mental diseases.

One of the mental diseases indicated by Thaw's actions, Dr. Evans declared, is known as adolescent insanity. It is characteristic of the development period of life—from 10 to 40 years. The person thus afflicted is known as having a psychopathic taint, a predisposition to mental unsoundness, the result of heredity.

The death of the wife of Joseph B. Bolton, who succumbed to pneumonia, delayed the trial for three days after Dr. Wagner's testimony, and for a time, grave fears that a new trial would be necessary, were expressed. The day after the funeral, however, the juror resumed his duties. Up to this point the defense had expended $1,000,000 on the trial, and the