Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-25
THAW MURDER CASE
Prisoners Counsel Disposes of
Insanity Plea.
NOT PLAN OF THE DEFENSE
Client Opposed to Posing as Insane
Person.
ioT PLAN OF THE DEFENSE
INTERVIEW WITH MISS CRANE
New York Masseuse, Who Was Sent
to Paris by Stamford White
in 1904.

NEW 1ORh, July Zo.-CuuOrQ w f1dTt-
ridge, of counsel for Harry K. Thaw, an
nounced today that the question of insanity
Will not enter into Thaw's defense. Mr..
Hartridge said the public could take 1t
from Harry Thaw that there was no foun-
dation for reports published today that
there would be a civil commission to ex-
anime into the prisoners mental condition.
The lawyer declared that Thaw lis averse
any suggestion In that direction makes him
inpatient.
The Evening World today publishes an
interview with Miss Anna Crane, a
masseuse of this city, whose statement was
taken yesterday by an assistant district
attorney for possible use in the Thaw case.
According to the World interview, Miss
Crane, who is about fifty years old, was
sent to Paris by Stanford White in 1904
in response to appeals from Mrs. Nesb1t
(now Mrs. Holman), Evelyn Nesbt' 8
mother, and brought the young. woman
back to New York. Miss Crane is quoted
by the World as saying that she knew Miss
Nesbt before the young woman and her
mother went abroad in 1904 and were fol-
lowed to Paris by Harry X. Thaw.
Mr.. White, she said, then sent for her.
told her that he had received several COM
munfcations from Mrs. Holman and asked
her to go to Paris and straighten out mat
ters When she arrived in Paris, Miss
Crane said, she found all three had been
living in beautiful apartment near the
Champs Elysee and that Thaw had been
the principal caller upon Miss Nesbit.
The day before / got there" said Miss
Crane, "a terrible had taken place
and Mrs. Nesbit had been put out of the
apartment by Thaw, who acted like a ma
Mae. Mrs. Nesbit was nearly destitute
and but for the timely arrival Of a woman
with the. Nesbits and been left behind in
London. she would never have got back to
the United States. The newspaper woman
aided Mrs. Nesbit with her own money and
subsequently cabied Mr.. White for funds"
Afraid Thaw Would Kill Her.
Miss Crane said that Miss Nesbit begged
her to remain and said that she was
afraid that Thaw would kill her (NIiss Nes-
bip. The succeeding events, Miss Crane
said, were the most distressing she ever
experienced She declared her belief that
Nesbit also believed so at that time. Miss
Crane said that Miss Nesbit showed to her
bruises on her back and arms which Miss
NeSbit said were inflicted by Thaw. On
several occasions when she present
Miss Crane said Thaw tried to choke Miss
Nesbit and left the marks of his fingers
On neF lHTOdt-
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 when he went out on
the Paris boulevards to stroll with other
women, Miss Crane said, to lock Miss Mes
bit and Miss Crane In their apartments.
Miss Nesbit considered an appeal to the
French authorities, but refrained through
fear that 1t would ruin her stage career.
Thaw constantly raved over men whom
Miss Nesbit knew in New York. and often
spoke of Stanford White in threatening
manner, Miss Crane declared. Finally
Thaw consented to allow Miss Nesbit to
return to New York. and they sailed after
a violent scene In London.
Threatened Breach Of Promise Suit.
On the way across the ocean. said Miss
Crane Miss Nesbit declared her intention
Of bringing suit for breach of promise
against Thaw and of charging him with
assault When they arrived in New York
Whites automobile was awaiting them and
Miss Nesbit went direct to Whites Office,
which, Miss Crane said. must have been by
arrangement made by Miss Nesbit's mother.
A family conference. she declared. ensued
and several days later Miss Nesbit went
to the Office of A. H. Hummel, the lawyer,
and made statement concerning Thaw $
conduct. The suit. Miss Crane said, was
to have been for $4,000.
Miss Crane said that Stanford White
acted like gentleman; that Miss Nesbit
had only the kindest words to say of him
and that he was klnd-hearted man whom
Mrs. Holman had interested In her children.