The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-04-19
AMERICAN SENTIMENT SHIFTS.

There has been a remarkable change
of public sentiment with regard to the
Thaw case since the day Evelyn Mes
bit, pretty in her blue gown, told her
sympathy.inspiring story. Had the
case ended that day or week acquittal
would have resulted and the verdict
would have been applaudcd. But the
case ran on for several weeks. The
whole case occupied twelve weeks
And in twelve weeks, as has just been
proved, American sentiment, powerful
when started, can sweep from one ex.
IRENE to the opposite-from contempt
to deep sympathy and back again to
contempt.
For time the country was strong
for Thaw. Delmas was n hero. His
sarcastic 1.-THE learned district attor-
ney," appealed to our sympathy for
Harry and Evelyn in their griling by
Jerome.
The polished oratory, the genteel
manner of the Californian stood out
for time in heroic contrast to Je-
rome's steel grey individuality and his
cold blooded harshness. For mo-
ment the country almost Kissed the
district attorney when he grilled the
little witness after her confession. But
time wore on. Sympathy cooled.
Calmer reason pushed romantic "un-
written law" aside. Brain storms lost
their attractiveness. Delmas overdid
1t in painting Thaw's heroism. He
plastered on the golden colors too pro-
fusely. Jerome followed briefly to
point out the counterfeit and the in.
sincere in Delmas' oratory, spread out
to entrap jurors hearts. 1t reacted on
jury and country alike. And the dis
agreement was no surprise. What
would have been, four weeks previous,
instant acquittal, turned to seven for
conviction. Memory had relinquished
the well told words of the actress. In
attentions after Thaw's marriage were
not so annoying as the defense might
have wished them to appear.
And today the country is regretting
that the whole loathesome story must
be retoid. Thaw's cowardice in allow.
ing woman to make such sacrifice
for his life or liberty is being con.
demned; Evelyn's own moral standards
are finding their way to the public
mind, in spite of her fearful recital
Whether or not her same story, told
again after being given such publicity
can have enough weight to cause an.
other disagreement is the question
Another disagreement will be equal to
acquttal, But Jerome will have gained
an advantage in the fact that no new
thrills can be created by repetition
of the story.
In England Delmas' plea has been
characterized as "flapdoodle" which
could not be tolerated in English
courts. Such forensic oratory is in.
conceivable in English courts" says
the London Standard. If Delmas can
produce new testimony showing that
White haunted Evelyn after her mar.
riage to Thaw, or that Thaw had rea.
son to believe White would kill him.
another disagreement may be expect.
ed. But Thaw will have less sympa.
thy at his back in another trial. The
cold fact that he killed White will be
the prominent feature in the public
mind. And with this sentiment there
will be resentment that another 800,
600 must be expended by the state fol
prosecution, against 100000 for de
Tense. The realization of cost upon
taxpayers will tend to drive sentiment
into the side of the people as against
the accused.
I"A BRITISH BROWNSVILLE CASE