Evening journal., 1906-08-09
SAY THAW BEAT
GIRL WITH WHIP
Girls Lawyer Shows Com
plant and Evidence That
Suit Was Settled
JEROME TO PROSECUTE CASE

NEW YORK, Aug 9.-In spite OF the
denial Of Harry X. Thaw that he had ever
been sued for $4,000 damages on a charge
Of beating Ethel Thomas with a whip, 1t
was established positively yesterday
that the suit was brought and that 1t
was settled in the office Of Abraham
Hummel When Thaw denied that he had
been sued, his statement was backed up
by Clifford W. Harlridge, his lawyer, who
said that he had been unable TO find any
record Of the suit having been bronsht'
II was learned yesterday, however, that
not only had the complaint In the Thomas
girls suit been served ON Thaw but he
had filed an answer, and ii was long af-
ter issues were joined that the case was
settled out of the court.
For several weeks there has been much
speculation as TO who would prosecute
Thaw. 10 set all rumors at rest, District
Attorney Jerome announced yesterday
that he would conduct the prosecution
personally and that no outside counsel
would be employed by the State. Incident
ally Jerome took occasion to criticise Tho
Judges of General Sessions for not sitting
all summer, and said that If the Judges
would do their duty his assistants would
be on hand to try the cases that are now
pending. From Jcromo's remarks it was
taken also that Thaw will not be tried In
October. and that IN all probability his
case will not be called until December, as
there are more than twenty other homi-
eide cases ahead Of him.
Thomas Girls Charges
Because of Thaw's assertion that the
Thomas girl was not dead and that she
had never begun suit against him, Joseph
A. Shay, a lawyer Of No. 800 Broadway.
yesterday showed the complaint IN the
case. The plaintiff charged Thaw with
having beaten her with a whip, and there
were other allegations, which, il they
could have been proved. would have made
| Thaw liable to long term In prison.
] Thaw's answer IN the case was filed by
Z Delaheld and Longfelow who were th.
first attorneys to represent him In the
murder case. Shay asserted that the com-
plant was served on Thaw as he sienp d
out Of an automobile IN front OF the Wal.
dorf-Astoria, and that after the case hung
\ fire for a long time it was settled IN th,
office Of Abraham Hummel.
when Thaw denied that he had been
sued by the Thomas girl" Shay said. "h,
evidently thought that the papers in the
case had been destroyed. They are not
and they viii be shown to the jury that
tries him II the evidence Is competent
Thaw also did not speak the truth wher
( he said chat he had seen the Thomas girl
in the last four or five months. The girl
/ has been dead for two years. and the
4 treatment she sustained at Thaw's hands
! I believe. had much to do with her sud
den death. If there is any doubt left thai
/ the girl actually is dead, I will lad the
District Attorney or any representative
Of his office 10 her grave"
Thaw Must Take Chances
jerome was asked yesterday In regard
10 the rumor that he would engage vii
liam Rand. Jr his former assistant, q,
try the Thaw case.
Il am going to try the case myself
Jerome replied, "hut I cannot tell now
when the trial will be called. The case
will be called when II Is ready and not q
day sooner. Harry Thaw must take hi'
chances with the other prisoners I'm th'
Tombs accused OF murder and when his
turn comes he viii be tried.