Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-26
BELIEVES THAW
is A LUNATIC
New York Woman Tells of Murderer's
Violent Acts While in Paris
Nv Aeeociated Press.

by Associated Press
NEW YORK, July 25.-The Evening
World today published an interview
with Miss Anna Crane, a masseuse of
this city. whose statement was taken
yesterday by an assistant district at
torney for possible use in the Thaw
case.
According to the World interview
Miss Crane, who is about so years of
age. was sent to Paris by Stanford
White In 1904 in response to appeals
from Mrs. Nesbit (now Mrs. Holman),
Evelyn Nesbits mother, and brought
the young woman back to New York.
Miss Crane is quoted by the World
as saying that she knew Miss Nesbit
before the young woman and her
mother went abroad in 1904 and We're
followed to Paris by Harry Thaw. Mr..
White, she said, then sent for her,
told her that he had received communi-
cations from Mrs. Holman and asked
| her to go to Paris and straighten out
| certain affairs.
| When she arrived in Paris Miss
| Crane said she found that all three had
been living in a beautiful apartment
near the Champs Elysee and that Thaw
had been the principal caller on Miss
Nesbit
"The day before I got there" said
Miss Crane, "a terrible row had taken
place and Mrs. Nesbit had been put
| out of the apartment by Thaw, who
acted like maniac. Mrs. Nesbit was
nearly destitute and but for the timely
arrival of a woman newspaper writer
who had gone abroad with the NeSbits
and been left behind in London, she
would never have returned to the
United States. The newspaper woman
aided Mrs. Nesbit with her own money
and she cabled Mr.. White for funds. y
Thinks Thaw Lunatic
She declared her belief that Thaw
was a lunatic and said that Miss Mes
bit showed her bruises on her back and
arms which were inflicted by Thaw. On
NSeveral occasions when she was pres
ent Miss Crane said Thaw tried to
choke Miss Nesbit and left the marks
of his fingers on her throat.
Miss Crane asserted that she saw
Thaw beat Miss Nesbit and that
/ twice when Miss Crane interfered Thaw
| struck her also. 1t was Thaw's habit
y when he went out on the Paris boule-
wards to stroll with other women, Miss
Crane said, to lock Miss Nesblt and
Miss Crane in their apartments. Miss
Crane considered an appeal to the
French authorities, but refrained
through fear that it would ruin hei
stage career.
Thaw constantly raved over mer
whom Miss Nesbit knew in New York
and often spoke of Stanford White in q
threatening manner, Miss Crane said
Mr.. Thaw finally consented to allow
Miss Nesbt to return to New Yorl
and they sailed after violent scene ir
London.
Intended to Bring Suit
On the way across the ocean, saic
Miss Crane. Miss Nesbit declared hel
intention of bringing a suit for breaol
of promise against Thaw and of charg'
ing him with assault.
When they arrived in New Yorl
7 Whites automobile was awaiting then
and Miss Nesbit went direct to Whites
, office, which, Miss Crane said. mus
have been an arrangement made by
Miss Nesbit's mother.
family conference, she declared, en-.
sued and several days later Miss Mes
bit went to the office of Abe IIummel
the lawyer, and made a statement con
cerning Thaw's conduct. The suit
Crane said, was to have been fol
$50, 900.
Miss Crane said that Stanford Whit,
acted like a gentleman. that Miss Mes
bit had only the kindest words to say
} of him and that he was a kind -hearteC
man whom Mrs. Holman had interested
in her children.