The sun., 1907-03-07

Experts and BraLn storms -learnea
from Her Son ny Degrees OF "the
wICkedest Man. In New York and Of
the Girl Who Became Her Daughter
In.I.aw-COmTOrted Him In His Vary.
Ing Moods - Arguments Over LunRcy
Commission Make II seem Likely tbs
Case WIN go 10 the Jury DIR. wagner
Concludes o sIOTc Experts for TnaW.
All the testimony that will be, offered
in behalf Of Harry X Thdw save the opin-
ions Of two experts a. to his sanity on the
night he killed Stanford White went to
the jury yesterday with the story OF Mrs.
Mary Copely Thaw, his whitehaired mother.
She told Of the events that led up to hee
sons marriage to Evelyn Nesbit from the
time he returned from Europe with the
young woman in the fall Of 1903.
Contrary to general expectations and
seemingly against her own wishes or what
she had been led 10 believe, she was not
asked to tell anything about hereditary
tendency to insanity in the Thaw family.
It caused her great surprise when her ex-
animation ended before she had told any
thing OF the Thaw family history, and
when she showed a disposition to go into
this phase of the case, limited at many
times in the course Of the trial, she was
prevented gently but firmly by Lawyer
Delmas, captain Of Thaw's legal forces.
After the tedious examination Of the
alienists the appearance of Mrs. Thaw came
| as a reiuVenator for the sensation hunters.
| There had been many vacant seats at the
morning session but there wasn't a bit OF
! spare room in the court when Mrs. Thaw
began telling her story at the beginning
of the afternoon session.
Mrs. Thaw lie a motherly looking woman
OF perhaps 90. Her hair is silvery and was
brushed back from prominent forehead.
She was all in black-gloves, gown and hat.
A black veil was thrown over her hat almost
touching her shoulders. The furs which
she wore at her throat were removed soons
as the room was close and warm.
! In repose Mrs. Thaw's face is stern, but
when she smiles, as she did several times,
! il is a pleasant smile. 1t is the Thaw smile.
! Thaw has it., and it has been noticed in his
sisters when they were in the court room.
| Most Of her story was lost to those in
! the court room. Her voice was soft, with
a mellow touch, and at first even the jury
couldn't hear. As she became more ae
| ease her voice became stronger, strong
enough at least for the jury 70 hear. 30
that her testimony did not have to be re-
| peated by the stenographer as it was at
| first.
Her Sons Days OF Worry.
When her son got back from Europe in
! I903-this was after Evelyn Nesbit had told
| Thaw in Paris about Stanford White-hs
went to his home in Pittsburg. She noticed
that he was distracted and emotional.
! He did not sleep we'll, and at nights when
she would go into his room he was sitting
| up, dressed. As late "a o'clock she would
see light in his room and would find him
undressed He would play the piano.
| softer and softer, leave it and then 60 back
| to ii again.
| She was not Of a prying disposition, az
| she expressed il. 80 she didn't find out
much about what was worrying her son.
! At last he told her about what -the wicked
+ est man" in New York had done. He
| didn't tell her the name Of the girl at first!
| and she didn't ask. But her son told her
that this girl had been ruined by this wicked
man and he never could be happy.
AZ she told OF these things Mrs. Thaw
! filed up. Once or twics she was on the
verge Of tears, but she controlled herself.
brushing her eyes and faoe with her hand
kerohief. At other times. when District
Attorney Jerome and Mr.. Delmas were
tuSsling over some question, she was i'm
patient and wanted TO 60 right on In her
own way. ShO would mako many ex-
pressivs gestures with her black glovOd
hands illustrating what Shs wanted to say.
Argument Over Lunaoy Commission.
In the middle Of Mrs. Thaw's story the
question Of q lunacy commission FOR Thaw
came up. the first time it has been spoksn
Of in court. Mr.. Delmas wanted from Mrs.
Thaw a conversation she had with her SON
in June, 1904, but Mr.. Jerome protested
that this was not one Of the periods as to
which there was evidence that Thaw was
insane. II the alienists for Thaw had
sworn that Thaw was insane from June,
1908, to the night ho killed White then, Mr..
Jerome said, his objection would not be
sound, but one Of the experts had said that
there were lucid intervals in that period.
Mr.. Jerome declared that there was noth-
ing to show that Thaw was not insane now,
and IL that was the case II was the Courts
duty to appoint a commission in Mnacy.
There was no such contention. Mr.. Delmas
said. Justice FitzGerald said that he could
I