The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-08


ne" YORK, February 6.-The defense
Oh Harry Is. ThaW. under the dire2
lon OF Attorney Dolphin NJ. Delras
OF California, began to assume defr' 20
shape today and when an adiournmep+
was taken testimony had been plac,,d
Detore the jury to the effect that STAN
1ord White had been heard to make q
threat TO Kill the defendant-couplluy
the threat with the display of revul-
Ver-that ThaW'S actions following Ihe
Killing OF White On the roof of Madison
[ Square Garden was considered by sew
eral eye-WltneSses to have been iria-
uonai; that an uncle Of the deten-
dant was insane; that Evelyn Nesbit
IhaW passed a note to her husband
during dinner at the cafe Martin the
evening Of the tragedy; that District
Attorney Jerome has this note, and re-
fused, On the demand Of the defense to
introduce it in evidence. So far, in
deed, had ThaW's defense progressed
that at the close OF today's procedures
the announcement was made by Nj
Delmas that either the wife or the
mother of the defendant would 1e the
first witness on the stand tomorrow
morning.
The threat against ThaW's life was
made two years and d half before the
tragedy occurred. District Attorney
Jerome objected to the Introduction
OF the evidence, declaring the defan&
was not understood by him to be one
of self-defense.
~ pelmas replied that the defense
inte7hded to take advantage of every
legal defense allowed in The state of
New York, be it insanity, self-detersa
OF any other legitimate Justification OF
! the taking Of a human life. This was
J but the first of a series of initerestin
tits between the district attorney and
Sir. Delmas during the day, and 1t was
agreed that Mr.. Jerome had found
Thaw's new leading counsel foeraau
worthy Of his best efforts. The two
men are of widely different tyres
Mr. Jerome, quick, passionate, force
full, sarcastic and brilliant at ridicule:
Mr. Delmas calm, courteous, resource.
full, witty, crafty and ethical, to whom
the district attorney was always the
learned district attorney" There
was never a deviation from this meth
cd of address.
Benjamin Boman, formerly stage
doOrkeeper at the Madison Square
theatre, was the witness who tolC Of
Whites threat. Boman was offered
IA
atAsrley was successful at that tine
in blocking the evidence by objections.
Nr. Delmas today withdrew the obje.-
tionable questions and Mr. jerome i'll
turn withdrew his protest against the
witness.
Roman declared that on Christmas
! eve. 1903, Stanford White came 10
1.-The stage door about 11.15 p. >19. Aad
asked for Miss Nesbit. The door
keeper told him the actress, who Wa
then Dlaying in THE Girl from Dixie
had gone home. At first he accused
him a falsehood and then asked Whc
had been her escort.
''Mr. Thaw," the witness said he re
piled.
H.
the architect, who to make sure tic
actress had gone, went to her dressing
room on the stage. Not finding her
there, White, according TO boLan'
walked rapidly out of the theatre With
a revolver in his hand, and mutlering:
s1'I find and kill that -
before daylight"
Tho witness said he believer ths
threat to be directed against Harry
Thaw and told him of it several days
| later when they chanced to meet Cd
Fifth avenue He also told a detective
sergeant about the incident.
District Attorney Jerome cross eA'
annined the witness for more than j
hour. but Boman adhered closely &C
|. his story i'm every detail. Once or twice
the witness became a trifie confused as
&n hie during the first uvS