The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-22
THAW To CONDUCT
OWN DEFENSE.
Will Make the Fight for
His Life Unhampered
by Mothers Lawyers
DEAF TO ADVICE
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

NEW YORK, July 21.-Unyielding
and obstinate as ever on the subject
of his defense, Harry Kendall Thaw
turned from his mothers commands
and appeals this afternoon. The dis
traught woman surrendered to the will
of her son and he will make the fight
for his life, unhampered by her law
yers.
There were tears in the eyes of Mrs.
William Thaw when she left the Tombs
prison this afternoon, after half an
hour spent with her son, in which she
pleaded with him with all the strength
that was in her, but only in vain.
And there were tears in the eyes of
her daughter, Mrs. George Lauder
Carnegie, who was present at the fam
lily consultation in the prison
The two women evinced deep sorrow
when they stepped into the waiting
electric cab and drove to the offices
of Attorney Olcott. After the con-
ference between Mrs. Thaw and her
lawyer, the latter telephoned to the
Office of Lawyer Hartridge and Hart
ridge shortly afterward received from
former Judge Olcott the report Of DR..
Allan McLane Hamilton, the alienist,
DECLARING Harry Thaw insane at the
present time.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw was in the fam
lily conference with her husband at the
Tombs, but she was a silent member.
The report that she and her mother
in-law were hardly on speaking terms
was amply borne out by the attitude
of both women while the talk with
Harry Thaw was in progress.
Mrs. William Thaw spoke to her
daughter -in-law just twice in the
course of the half hour spent with the
prisoner. Then both questions and
answer were in frigid tones.
NEW YORK, July 21.--The World to-
morrow will say: "a motive for the
murder of Stanford White is indicated
in series of letters written by Mrs
Nesbit Thaw, to Mr.. White, and after
the latter's death found among his eff
fects.
Abraham H. Hummel OF Howe &
Hummel, who were counsel for Mrs.
Thaw and also for Stanford White, was
consulted by the architect regarding
the letters. In them Mrs. Nesbit- Hol-
man complains bitterly of the conduct
Of Harry K. Thaw toward her daugh-
ter, now his wife, and imploring Mr..
White to do all in his power to bring
her back to her mothers control.
In the letters Mrs Holman refers to
Thaw as scoundrel villain and a
man with dangerous intentions in his
heart. She tells of an interview she
had with Thaw when they were in
Paris and declares that Thaw wanted
her, Mrs. Holman, to sign an affidavit
to the effect that he, Thaw had never
intended to make Evelyn his wife,
1t appears hat Thaw became aware
of the fact that White had been an
pealed to by Mrs. Nesbit, now Mrs.
Holman. and that the arcmtect knew. of
the Quarrels between Thaw and his
present wife; also that Evelyn had told
| her stepfather that she was not mar
ried to Harry Thaw at the time they
arrived from Europe and were driven
out to the Hotel Cumberland
'Thaw at that time had given out a
statement which was afterward cor
roborated from Pittsburg that he and
! Evelyn had been married while In
| Europe. Thaw knew that White was
| the only person outside of his family
who knew that this statement was
false and that Thaw did not marry his
presents wife until months later in
| Pittsburg.
Just what disposition is to be made
of these letters is not known at pres
ent The letters are kept, in a safe and
| 1t may be that they will be produced
II Thaw should ever be placed on trial
for murder and Mrs. Nesbit- Holman
! should become a witness.
District Attorney Jerome is anxious
to have Mrs. Holman come to New York
so that she may be served with sub
pena to appear at the trial. II she does
she will be cross-examined most Sc
verely and questioned as to how among
other things. she came to apply to
! White for financial aid.
Among the papers left by White are
also a number of letters written to Mr.
Holman, husband of Mrs. Harry Thaw's
mother. 1t would appear that he too
knew all about the relations between
Harry Thaw and Evelyn Nesbit. In all
these letters Evelyn Thaw is referred
| to as Florence She was called thus
before she went on the stage and later
| on her friends came to call her Evelyn
But to Stanford White she was Flor
| ence."
! In, concluding It's story, which in
cludes many letters, the World SAYS:
Much has been said since the night
Harry Thaw killed White about an affi-
davit which Evelyn Nesbit is said to
| in which she is reported to have said
things concerning the man now her
husband. 1t is known positively that
the original affidavit Is in existence and
that 1t was drawn in Mr.. HummeHs
office at the instance of Mr.. White who
| introduced the girl to the lawyer. Mr.
Jerome may be able to get possession
of the affidavit.
Mr. Jerome will have no trouble in
getting from the White estate all the
documents having any bearing on the
murder, and the White lawyers have
assured Mr.. Jerome that they will do
all in their power to aid in the prose-
cution.
There are many letters written to
Mr.. White by the Nesbits, but whether
-