The Washington herald., 1907-03-07

New York, March 6-Al the testimony
that viii be offered to save Harry X
Thaw from the electric chair, save the
opinions of two experts as to his sanity
on the night he killed Stanford White
went to the jury to-day with the story
of Mrs. Mary Copley Thaw, his white
haired mother
In brief, she told of the events that led
up to her sons marriage to Evelyn
Nesbit from the time he returned from
Europe with the young woman in the fail
az 1905. Summed up by those who heard
it, her description of her sons manner Of
acting during that period was not a pic
ture OF the way a mailman would be
expected to act
Contrary to general expectations. and
seemingly against her own wishes, or
what she had been led to believe, she
was not asked to tell anything about a
hereditary tendency to insanity in the
Thaw family. 1t caused her great sur
prise when her examination ended before
she had told anything of the Thaw fam
lily history, and when she showed a dis
position to go into this phase of the
case, limited at many times during the
trial, she was taken of the stand. gently
but firmly, 10y Lawyer Delmas, captain
OF Thaw's legal forces.
Thaw's Mother Testifes.
Mrs. Thaw is a substantial, motherly-
looking woman. Of perhaps sixty. Her
hair is somewhat silvery; she was dressed
wholly in black. She said when her son
got back from Europe in I903-this was
after Evelyn Nesbit Thaw had told him
in Paris about Stanford White-he went
to his home in Pittsburg- She noticed
that he was distracted and emotional
She was not of prying disposition. as
she expressed it. so she didn't find out
much about what was worrying her son.
At last he told her about what the
wickedest man in New York had done.
He did not ten her the name Of the girl
at first. and she did not ask But her
son told her that this girl had been
vronged by this wicked man, and he
never could be happy. As she told of
these things, Mrs, Thaw filed up once
or twice, she was on the verge of tears.
but she controlled herself.
Question OF Lunacy Commission.
In the middle of Mrs. Thaws story
mission for Thdw, the FIRST time il has
been spoken of in court. DeImas wanted
from Mrs. Thaw d conversation she had
with her son in June, 1904. but Jerome
protested. In substance. Jerome declared
that there was nothing to show that
Thaw was not insane now, and If that
was the ease, II was the courts duty to
appoint a commission IN lunacy. There
No ia
and Justice Fitzgerald said that he could
not pass upon the question of the ap-
pOintment of a lunaCy commission unless
there was an application from the district
attorney.
Everything said by Justice Fitzgerald
indicated that he viii not appoint a COM
mission on his own initiative. 1t now
appears that all hope that Jerome may
have had of a lunacy commission has
been swept away. ard that the jury viii
decide Tbaw's fate
''Wickedest Man in New York"
As Justice Fitzgerald ruled that Mrs
Thaw could tell Of these conversations.
she went on with her story. She told
her son, referring to the wickedest man
in New York" that that sort of thing
was happening in a city like New York
all the time. and why should he feel his
life was ruined Furthermore. it was not
altogether his business to see that this
girl was not dragged down.
It was shortly before her son sailed for
Europe the second time with Evelyn Mes
bit, i'm 1904. that she learned the name of
the girl who was causing him so much
worry. She spoke TO him about the news
paper comment about his returning on
l.s -ra d
explained that there was nothing unusual
in that when a man was seeking to make
the young woman his wife. He talked Of
marrying her as early as 1893 and he
kept on insisting that he would marry
her. At her sons solicitation, she came
20 New York. met the young woman and
gave her approval TO the marriage. on
condition that Evelyn's mother should
never enter their home, and that the past
life of the girl should he a sealed book"
The day of the marriage the defendant
sat at his desk writing out the viii and
the cCdicil.
Examination Ends Abruptly.
Mrs. Thaw's direct examination ended
abruptly. The usual recess was taken TO
air the courtroom with Mrs Thaw stiIl
telling her story. It looked as if she had
"A lot more 10 tell. but there was confer
ence between the Thaw lawyers during
the recess, and when it was over Delmas
calmly announced:
The witness is yours. Mr.. District At
torney"
Jerome fought hard to get in some evil
dence about the time when ThaU's income
was raised TO SSo000 but il was excluded
by Justice Fitzgerald on the ground that
il was before June, 1903, when Thaw first
heard the story about White from Evelyn
Nesbit.
She told Jerome that her son did not tell
her that his relations with Evelyn Nesbit
were meTetrCiOus before he married her.
When Jerome announced that he had
nothing more 10 ask her, and Delmas. in
his usual gallant manner, motioned that
me had nothing more to ask her Mrs.
Thaw was confused She looked at Jus
tice Fitzgerald and said appealingIy:
Is that all 1 may say? I want. with
your permission, TO say something about
hereditary-.' But Delmas did not want
to hear any more, and said so. Jerome
made no effort to conceal his pleasure at
Delmas' embarrassment.
Hurried on stand.
L wanted to correct some false impress
siuns." added Mrs Thaw. But she was
not granted that privilege.
Delmas announced that the rest Of the
witnesses for the defense would be ex-
perts. The trial was then adjourned until
Friday morning. in order that Justice FttZ-
gerald may attend the funeral of a rela-
tive. 1t is rot expected that the experts
who will be called will toe asked to testify
10 anything except a hypothetical ques-
tion covering everything in the case.
Before DR.. WagneTs testimony was fin
iShed to-day Jerome got him TO admit Mat
from the time Evelyn Nesbit is said to
have told the story TO ThaW about White