Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-04
WHITES LIFE CLEAN
DETECTIVES SAY he WAS NOT
THE CHARACTER PICTURED.


Developments in the Thaw case yester-
day In New York were significant and In
teresting
acter of Stanford White. who was killed by
Harry Kendall Thaw. given yesterday at
the district attorneys ONCE by John E.
McKenna was little less than sensational.
McKenna IL manager OF the Greater New
York Detective Agency. which concern was
hired by Thaw to shadow White The
story he told was directly opposite to the
stories that have been published.
Instead OF showing White to be a liber
tine roue and even worse. as has been
so generally and publicly stated. the official
reports of the detectives for Whites most
bitter enemy gave him q clean bill Of
health'
The reports showed that White. in the
year and three months that he was almost
constantly watched. committed impro-
prieties of consequence. Efforts to entrap
him with young girls thrown In his way
proved futile. In fact his conduct was
such that Thaw did not get any evidence
whatever against the man he so thorough
ly hated.
The reports were received yesterday by
Assistant District Attorney Garvan. who
had subpoenaed McKenna to appear before
him and bring them. Mckenna became
connected with the case first through the
sworn statement of Paul Bergor. the de-
tective who was hired by White to watch
the detectives employed by Thaw. The
records were from half dozen men.
At times two and three men would watch
White. while at other times there were
four, five and even six men watching him
and annoying him II possible. This an
noyance was done on orders from Thaw, it
Is asserted. The constant watching OF
White began on March 8, 1905 1t lasted
until practically the night, week ago last
Monday, that White met his death on the
roof at Madison Square Garden. There
were intervals when the detectives did
not watch him, but these were only when
he went to Europe In June. 1905. and when
he was In Canada for two weeks the first
part OF last month.
In spite OF the allegations that White
has frequently met actresses. especially
young women, the reports showed to the
contrary. They showed that at times he
took actresses out to dinner but in the
openly and publicly. Stories of studio en-
tertainments, as alleged. the reports
showed to be unfounded.
The reports further showed that frequent
efforts were made by the detectives to en-
trap White Young girls. for whom White
was alleged to have a fondness, were sent
out as decoys, but White In every instance
avoided the pitfalls and no damaging evil
dence was obtainable.
r The detectives made their reports as COM
piete as detectives reports be made.
They showed when man picked up as
they expressed 1t, the object of their
watching; what occurred during the time
that White was watched and when this sur
veillance ended. Then a second man re-
lieved the first man and made similar re-
port. In this manner the entire time of
White when out of his home or his office
was covered by the detectives, and nothing
that occurred was left out of the reports.
Thaw Is thought to have expended large
sum In this surveillance of White. Not
only were the men paid SO and 81 day. but
all expenses were paid. These included.
the reports showed. electric cabs, hansom5
and many dinners and suppers In places of
public resort where White had gone Ber-
goff. In his statement to the district attor-
ney. swore that White paid him $1,000 for
his work and as there were many men in
the Thaw employ. the cost is thought to
have been several times that amount
Not only did the detectives watch White,
but they also "shadowed'' several young
women with whose actions White was al
legged to have been connected. These young
women. all actresses. were just as care
fully watched. ana In no instance were they
found TO nave committed improprieties.
McKenna assured Mr.. Caravan that he
would do all In his power to clear up the
case. as far as the detectives end is con-
cerned. He told Mr.. Garvan that any in
formation that he could command would be
Immediately forthcoming.
The reports Of the detectives were not
studied by Mr.. Caravan at any length yes
terday. The district attorneys office. how
ever, is known to be elated with the re-
ports. 1t has failed utterly, 1t Is said, to
find any substantiation for the many re-
ports maze against Whites character. To
cap this climax the reports from employees
of Thaw, also showing that White was not
the man generally alleged. make the prose-
cution's case exceedingly clear. 1t :. Is
thought
The only motive for the crime 1t is I'M
derstood, that the district attorneys office
has found so far Is one chiefly based upon
rumor