Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-26
THAW'S CASE IS
NEARING TRIAL
MOST NOTED IN HISTORY OF
NEW YORK STATE
Events Leading Up to the Tragedy at
Madison Square Garden VIII Be
Retold-Fortune Spent
for Lawyers
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Nov. 25.--The trial of
Harry Kendall Thaw, slayer of STAN
ford White the noted architect, will
probably take place during December
or January.
The trial is looked forward to as one
of the most famous cases in the crimi-
nal history of New York state. The
prominence OF the Thaw family social
ly, the wealth of his parents, the cir
cumstances surrounding the young
mans marriage to Evelyn Nesbit, the
artists model and chorus girl, and the
spectacular scene i'm the midst of which
he fired the bullets into the breast of
the man who he claimed had betrayed
his wife. all tend to attract an interest
In the trial extending from one end of
the country to the other.
For a long time an effort has been
made to have young Thaw rely upon
a defense of emotional insanity" but
he steadfastly has declined TO give his
assent to any such plan and in his de-
termination not to agree to hide be-
hind n cloak of insanity the cause
which he impatiently asserts to be just,
he has at one time and another since
his imprisonment dismissed several of
the lawyers engaged to help in his de-
fense. among them a former governor
of the state of New York.
Notable Principals
The players in this extraordinary
tragedy of real life are each Of them
interesting.
Harry Thaw. the ever wayward son
of rich and indulgent parents, had be-
come widely known throughout the
country prior to the killing of Stanford
White by reason of the publicity given
to many of his escapades by the news
papers. His father, the late William
Thaw, was one of Pittsburgs richest
men. He had early seen that Harry
was not to be entrusted with large
income lest he give himself over to
life of luxurious idleness and liberty.
So when the elder Thaw died he pro-
vided that Harry Thaw should have
only S2500 a year.
The bulk of the estate went to Mrs.
William Thaw, whose indulgent love
for her children was soon made appar-
ent in the manner in which she law
ished money upon them. Harry Thaw
had but to ask whatever sum he chose
and the mother gave 1t to him. He
abandoned his $2500 year income from
the estate to his valet. 1t is said that
the young mans expenditures often
averaged as high as $50, 900 and 100000
a year.
The ThaWs' Entry
Four or five years ago the Thaw
family came into unusual prominence
through the announcement of the en-
gogement of Harry Thaw's sister to the
earl of Yarmouth. The young English
nobleman had been in America for two
years or more at that time. He was
entertained at Newport and at the end
of a successful season there, during
which he had led the gay set in many
anna teur theatrical productions, he de-
cided to go upon the professional stage
to earn livelihood in this country. His
efforts along this line were indifferently
successful and then came the engage
ment and marriage to Miss Thaw. Since
that time the earl and the countess OF
Yarmouth have lived abroad.
Following the wedding of his sister
Harry Thaw also went abroad. When
he returned to this country two years
ago he remained in New York instead
of going to his mothers home in Pitts
burg.
1t was not long before he was seen
always in company with beautiful
young girl, Evelyn Nesbit, who had
graduated from the studio to the stage.
Young Thaw and Miss Nesbit were
central figures of many theater and
supper parties along Broadway, and
there appeared in one of the local pa
pes a story to the effect that Thaw and
Miss Nesbit had been secretly married
while abroad.
The fact of the wedding had not been
disclosed. it was declared. because of
the fear that displeased mother might
cut off the support of her favorite son.
That Wedding Story
The story of the wedding was taken
up everywhere and the young people
were kept busy with denials. Their af-
fairs attracted so much attention that
they were requested to move from the
fashionable hotel where they respect
lively had been occupying expensive
suites This called forth more noto-
riety.
The affairs of the young people were
kept constantly before the public until
it was finally announced that Mrs. Will
liam Thaw had consented her sons
marriage to Miss Nesbit. Thereupon
they were called to Pittsburg and in
the mothers home a marriage cere-
mony was performed.
For a long time following the we'd
ding the Thaws' affairs were practical
ly lost sight of. They spent most Of
their time in New York. were often seen
together at the theaters and the cafes
and apparently their lives ran happily
together.
Roof Garuen Muroer
1t was late in the evening of June 25
last that the city and soon the entire
country was ringing with the tragic
news that Harry Thaw had slain Stan
ford White.
The setting for the fatal attack had
been the Madison Square roof garden,
where the first night performance of a
summer musical show known as Mile.
Champagne" was being given. The
place was gay in flowers and multl-col-
ored electric lights and was thronged
with fashionably dressed audience.
on the stage a man was singing II
Could Love a Thousand Girls" when
suddenly above the music the pistol
shots rang out. The music ceased, the
chorus girls and actors upon the stage
were terror stricken. men and women
i'm the audience dropped their glasses
upon the tables before them. hi the
stiffness a man was heard to say:
"You ruined my wife, d-'you, and
now I've got you!"
Ia ~ he III