The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15

young Pittsburg millionaire who shot and
killed Stanford White, the architect, on
the Madison Square Garden Roof Garden
will not count for much in deciding his
fate. Here In New York cases of this
sort are tried In the newspapers. 1t is
safe to predict that ten out of the twelve
jurors will have made up their minds
before they are sworn in.
The defense had its inning first 1t dug
up all the scandalous stories 1t could
find of Whites past Many of them were
true and some were overdrawn. They
showed that while White was eminent
I'm his profession as an architect he led the
opposite of an exemplary life morally.
Whether he ever wronged Evelyn Mes
bit, the chorus girl wife of Thaw, Is
something known only to the girl her
self. The defense. of course, has tried to
make 1t appear lin the newspapers) that
he did What they will do at the trial
Is another matter. 1t is doubtful whether
such evidence would be admitted If they
should be able to produce 1t.
With the case in this shape the shrewd
lawyers employed to defend Thaw were
quick to seize upon the opportunity to
prejudice the public mind through the
press 1t is said that Mrs. Thaw went
to a former chorus girl friend who Is
the wife of a prominent newspaper editor
of this city and begged her to influence
her husband to publish Whites past. 1t
is impossible to say whether or not this
is true but 1t is a fact that this mans
paper has printed more about White than
any other paper dared print
Confronted with the vigorous newspa-
per campaign of the defense the prosecu-
ton was forced to do something to Off
set it, Jeromes assistants Immediately
began to repeat to the reporters mot to
be quoted of course) the stories told
them by the witnesses they examined
from day to day. If these stories are to
be credited Thaw and White met Evelyn
Nesblt about the same time and laid
siege to her affections Thaw finally won
by marrying her. But before he did so it
is declared that at Whites instigatlon,
she threatened to sue him for breach of
promise and for something more serious.
The prosecution promises to submit proof
at the trial that Evelyn Nesbit made
affidavit to these charges. 1t will also
attempt to show that Thaw's hatred for
White beginning when they were both
pursuing Evelyn Nesbit, was famed to
greater heat by the threatened breach of
promise suit, and that he repeatedly
threatened to kill his rival.
From the revelations so far one Is forced
to the conclusion that while White may
nave DetH as ulCltdi ttS it IihS bOciA
painted. Thaw was no shining light NOR
ally. The young man. according to his
intimates, besides being brutal and I'M
fitted In manner for polite society, has led
about us fast a pace as he had brains
to lead. AS for Evelyn Nesbit she is of
type that it Is hard to say a good
word for. Stripped of the glamor that
women of the chorus possess in the eyes
of their admirers, Evelyn Nesbit was
always looking out for the main chance.
II was the acceptance of the main chance
with her when she married Harry Thaw
because he gave her more money than
White did and promised to give her social
prominence. 1t may not be far from the
truth to say that the stupid Thaw was
ground between two millstones-Eyelyn
Nesbit and Stanford White.