The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-16
Notorious Lawyer COntrOyerts
Statement of Mrs. Thaw as
to Whites Conduct.
DELMAS THROWS LIGHT on
RECORD OF THE ATTORNEY
Fights Bitterly. but in Vain, to
Keep Out Testimony as
10 Affidavit.

NEW YORK, March 15,-With At
torney Delmas fighting him every inch
of the way District Attorney Jerome
today secured from Abraham Hummel
his complete story as TO the affidavit
which 1t is alleged Evelyn Nesbit Thaw
made in the lawyers office in 1903.
charging Harry X. Thaw with beating
her when she had told him that thc
statement that Stanford White had
drugged and ruined her was not true
Mr.. Delmss first objected broadly to
all of Hummel S testimony, offered
specific objection to each question pus
by the prosecutor. Justice Fitzgerald
overruled every objection, and Mr.. Del
mas made exceptions.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw was called TO
The stand in the effort of the defense
70 keep Hummel silent. She declared
that she had called upon Hummel in his
professional capacity and TO seek his
advice as a lawyer. Stanford White
n1n TAKEN DfI w lnS law cl piA1N u
with that end in view.
Justice Fitzgerald declared that, ad-
mitting the proposition of counsel and
client. Mrs Thaw herself had waived
the professional privilege By taking the
stand carly in the case and giving her
version of what transpired at Hummel a
office. The bond of secrecy once re-
moved could not be re-esta blished.
Hummels Record Shown.
Unsuccessful in blocking Hummel 5
testimony, Attorney Delmas on cross
examining the witness brought from his
own lips the fact that he had been
convicted in December, 1905, on
conspiracy in the same court room in
which Thaw Is being tried. He further
admitted that two indictments for sub
ornation Of perjury are pending against
HIM, and that one Of these indictments
charges him with having caused false
affidavit to be made,
Attorney Jerome protested against
humiiating details Of his trial, but
Justice Fitzgerald declined to inter
fere
Then Mr.. Delmas asked Hummel if
he had not heard the speech made bv
District Attorney Jerome when sentence
was about to be imposed; when Mr.
Jerome urged tho court TO pass the long
est and heaviest sentence within its
power upon Hummel, az ''he had been
n menace to the community for twenty
years Justice Fitzgerald finally sus-
tanned an objection TO this. and Hum
mel was not compelled TO answer.
Mr. Delmas wanted 10 know III Hum
mel had any more recent business trans
action with the district attorney. and
asked II Mr.. Jerome was pressing the
charges against him.
"He certainly IS, said the witness,
with spirit.
the effect that Evelyn Nesbit told him,
among other things. that Thaw had
beaten her when she refused to sign
papers he had prepared, charging Stan
ford White with her betrayal: that he
had dictated statement TO steno-
grapher in tho presence Miss Ncsbit
and Stanford Whites that he gave the
affidavit TO two of his clerks 10 take to
Miss Nesbit in the Madison Square
garden tower and that the next aanE
the paper was returned to HIM win
Evelyn Nesbit's signature attached He
kept the affidavit until Miss Neshlt
called one day and demanded 1t. He
refused 10 give il to her and turned 1t
over Stamford White, advising him
to have a photographs copy made.
Hummel said he himself arranged for
photographing the affidavit and that the
came TO his office. A rev
later, however. he completely
himself on this point. say
ing he did not make the arrangements,
that the photographer did not come To
his office. and thnt he had not so testl-
fed. After Stanford White had the
copy made he returned the original or
the affidavit, the Photographic negatives
and the prints made from the negatives
to Hummel, and swore today that he.
delivered the original ath-
dayit TO Miss Nesbit and has not seen
it since.
Abraham Snydecker, one of Hum
mel s clerks, was called and SAID he
took the affidavit to Mr.. White s rooms
in the tower and handed 1t To- the won
an poipted out to him as Miss Nesblt,
She kept tho affidavit for i've minutes
and signed, saying she had read IL
through.
Delmas Plays for Time.
At the conclusion Of this testimony,
District Attorney Jerome asked permls-
sion to introduce the carbon and pho
copy of the affidavit IN evil
flence. 1t was near the closing hour
and Mr.. Delmas asked that adJournment
be taken before arguing as to the aa
of the affidavit. He SAID
hat after reading the paper over he
might not object to its being offered
IN evidence. EFComing as 1t does, he
added, "in such questionable shape. we
nav deem it best TO have the paper go
n evidence ,..,
District Attorney Jerome completed
MS medical testimony in the morning,
Attorney Delmas for the defense de;
-ensc declining to cross-examinc any. or
bn experts. DR.. Flint, who testified
was excused. and then five
,ther aliepists were called, one after
mother. Each said he wa sfamIliar