The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-06-29
MRS. THAW Declines
TO Give INFORMATION
GRAND JURY INDICTS THAW
FOR MURDER IN FIRST
DEGREE.

Wife Frankly States That Her Reason
for Refusing to Testify is That She
Might Say Something That Would Do
Harm to Her Husband-FinalIy Ex-
cused--OnIy Twenty Years Old
Thaw Sends Message to Anthony
COmstock--Receives Letter Which He
Thinks Would Pay to Investigate.
New York, June 29-Harry Kendall
Thaw was indicted to-day for murder
in the first degree for the killing Of
Stanford White last Monday night on
the Madison Square roof garden. His
wife, Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, appeared as
q witness before the grand jury, but
begged to be excused from giving any
testimony whatever. Thaw will plead
to the indictment in court tomorrow
morning. No time will be set for the
trial until District Attorney jerome re-
turns to the city next week.
The grand jury's consideration of the
case was brief and followed a perfume
tory inquest before a coroners jury
Thaw calmly listened to the testimony
and while the jury was out he chatted
with his counsel and a policeman sit
ting near, laughing aloud at one stage
of the conversation.
Stanford White was buried to-day
with simple ceremonies at st. James, L.
l., where he had summer home. The
services were held in the st. James
Episcopal church.
In the opinion of the physicians who
performed the autopsy on Whites body
the life of the architect was shortened
not more than two years by the bullets
from Thaw's pistol. He was found tai
be suffering from Bright's disease, from
incipient tuberculosis and from fatty
degeneration of the liver.
Thaw sent a message from the Tombs
to-day to Anthony Comstock, president
of the Society for the Suppression Of
Vice, saying he had received a letter
which itwould pay Mr.. Comstock to in
vestigate. An agent Of the society call
ed upon Mr., Thaw this afternoon, but
was not admitted at that time.
1t was said that either the agent or
Mr.. Comstock himself might see Thaw
tomorrow.
Mrs. Thaws appearance before the
grand jury had been looked forward to
with considerable interest, as 1t was
thought she, possibly would take ad-
vantage of the occasion to throw some
additional light upon the tragedy. When
she appeared and requested to be ex-
cused from testifying the jury took the
view that, for the purpose of an indict-
ment, her evidence was not necessary.
After being ushered into the grand
jury room Mrs. Thaw was asked:
What is your name?"
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw."
"How old are your"
"Twenty years.
when did you last see and meet
Stanford White, the deceased?
Without becoming excited in the least,
but In a calm and rather forceful man
ner, she replied clearly, with emphasis
on each word: II hope that you gentle
men will not insist that shall answer
any more questions. must respecttul-
ly decline to answer the questions you
intend to ask me. l say this with all
respect to you, gentlemen"
Mr.. Garvan then asked her: why
don't you wish to answer?"
Addressing the foreman, Mrs Thaw
replied earnestly: II might say some
thing that might do harm to my hus-
band, and a wife ought to do all she can
TO protect her husband. l beg Of you
not to insist in putting further ques-
tions to me, because if you do will
have to decline to answer"
Addressing the jury, Mr.. Garvan is
said to have stated that the district at
torney's office would not insist unless
the grand jury SO desired. The jury
men then hold a short consultation
among themselves and finally, after
few minutes, the foreman, turning to
Mrs. Thaw. said: 1.-THE grand jury has
no desire to ask further questions un-
less YOU desire to tell them anything.
Mrs. Thaw simply replied: THANK
Won" She was then excused.
Miss May Mckenzie, the actress
friend of Mrs. Thaw, who was said to
have been called before the grand jury,
was not sworn in as a witness. She
and a number of other witnesses have
heen subpoenaed in the John Doe pro-
ceedings which are to be conducted by
the district attorneys office.
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