Page:The Great Harry Thaw Case.djvu/224

 "But the law requires you to attend the session of the commission," suggested Chairman McClure.

"I shall attend all sessions of the commission sitting as judges in lunacy," replied Mr. Jerome, "but I am not required to attend a board of medical examiners."

Chairman McClure then said the inquiry the commission had in mind was a simple one—to determine whether at this time the defendant is capable of understanding the proceedings against him and of rationally advising his counsel. The commission desires to limit the scope of inquiry as far as possible. The court, he said, wished the inquiry to be brief in order that the pending trial might be disposed of at the earliest possible moment. The commission had decided not to take into consideration the conflicting affidavits submitted to Justice Fitzgerald by Thaw's counsel and the opposing alienists, as they were considered as having been prepared solely for the information of the court.

The first two days of the hearing were taken up with a mental and physical examination of Thaw. He was asked scores of questions, but the nature of these never was made public.

While the investigation was in progress Easter came, and on that Sunday afternoon Thaw had a two hours' conference with his wife in the Tombs prison. The visit by Evelyn Nesbit Thaw was unusual. Never