The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1907-04-19
JEROME AND raE THAw CASE.

case. The public is sorely disap
pointed. 1t was hoped that thi
sensation had run its day anC
would be retired TO- good and all
But it seems that we are to have
it all over again-not perhaps il
the disgusting detail which Jerom,
insisted on bringing out, but il
sufficient quantity to again sicker
the people.
This case will be memorable moi
only because of the principals en-.
gagged, but also because it has in {
manner proven Waterloo to Mr..
Jerome's reputation.
New York's district attorney
prior to this trial enjoyed with
many the reputation of being o
champion of public morality and
most energetic prosecutor, follow.
ing the line of prosecution from
beginning to end with bulldog
pertinacity. This opinion of him
must now be revised. His insist
tauce upon using a mere TECHNICAL
ty for unrobing Evelyn Thaw's
life and his determination to dis
close every detail of her frailty
cannot be considered as a move.
ment in the cause of morality.
His utter disregard for the repu-
tations of some people connected
with this phase of Evelyn's life
and his painstaking caution to have
other names whispered indicates
that as States attorney be car
ries two spoons for the people, the
one to be used in serving the I'M
important in this worlds affairs
and the other for the use of the in
fuential and powerful.
His conduct of the case, too, is
not to his credit as lawyer. No
body ever believed him possessed
Of great ability in the higher
branches of the law, but in this
case he lost reputation even as
mere routine prosecutor, for he
was erratic and inconsistent to a
degree quite capable of confusing
any jury on earth.
He started out" as has been
said on former occasion, with
the theory and policy that Thaw
was sane when he killed White and
had been sane ever since, thus just
flying the death penalty. This
was the view that was taken by
most people who were free from
hysteria and maudlin sentiment.
If Mr.. jerome had stuck to this
policy he might have convicted
Thaw, but he would at least have
presented a logical and consistent
case.
HE chose, however, to change
front while in action--to swap
horses while crossing stream. He
made an abrupt about-f face and
sought to show that Thaw was
crazy at the time Of the killing and
was crazy now. He avowed his
repugnance to asking for the con-
viction of lunatic. He sought |
to have Thaw delared insane.
''He failed in that, but there
was still a chance to save a shred
Of his reputation for consistency.
If he had persisted in his refusal
to ask for the conviction of lu-
1atic he would have set Thaw free,
but he would have saved his own
face. Like feather blown by
he wind, however, he foated back
% his old position; he ate his own
assertion respecting Thaw's lnsan-
ty, and put himself in the position
If asking the jury to send u crazy
nan to the electric chair.'
No wonder the jury was confus
ID. No wonder 1t could neither
lcquit nor convict, for the record
made by the State itself left the
ury hopelessly evolved.
1t is possible Mr.. Jerome may
,andage up his shattered reputa-
ion with a second trial of this
,ase; but it has left him a broken
dol, and no nicely in the art of