Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-20
YOUNG WIFE
is AT MERCY
OF JEROME.
Cross Examination IS Under Way
Prisoners Wife Says
Story Is True.
TRYING ORDEAL FOR MRS. THAw
District Attorneys Questions Are
Rigid and Searching Recalls
Some of Whites Deeds.

NEW YORK, Feb. 20.--M Mrs Evelyn
Nesblt Thaw entered upon the ordeal
of her cross examination, ,and before
District Attorney Jerome had had the
witness In charge for half an hour he
had secured from the court ruling
which apparently opens the way for
bringing into the trial Of Harry X.
Thaw all manner of evidence which
may tend to discredit the defendants
wife.
For the first time since the trial of
Harry Thaw started Jerome practical
ly announced that if the evidence for
the defense should show that Thaw
was insane at the time of the murder
the prosecution would close Its case
forthwith. The plain Inference Is that
he will move for the appointment of a
commission in lunacy without Offering
any testimony for the state In rebuttal.
Jerome made the admission when ar
guing that his cross examination of
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, who had been
on the stand most of the day, should
be postponed.
Heretofore 1t has been held that the
rules Of evidence protected young Mrs.
Thaw and that regardless of whether
her story was true or false the fact
that she had told 1t to her husband
was the one essential point. Mrs.
Thaw had been allowed TO repeat the
story so that the jury might judge as
to its effect In uuhinging the mind of
the man on trial for the murder of
Stanford White.
Mr.. Jerome by simple question
opened the way for the Introduction
of testimony tending to show the truth
or falsity of Mrs. Thaw's story He
asked the witness:
WAS the story you told, Mrs. Thaw,
true?"
ut was" she replied firmly.
Mr.. Delmas, Thaw's leading counsel,
objected strongly to the question. but
Justice Fitzgerald held it to be com
petent as tending to show the credibili-
ty Of the witness.
He allowed Mr. jerome to bring from
Mrs. J. ]. CAlne of Boston, n friend of
Mrs. Thaw, who took the witness stand
during the morning session, many ma
terlal points as to the movements of
Harry Thaw aud Evelyn Nesblt follow
ing their return from Europe in 1904,
including the published incident of
their being elected from the Hotel
Cumberland in this city, the proprietor
insisting that they should register as
man and wife or leave their suits,
which adjolned. In bringing out these
facts Mr.. Jerome denied that he was
attacking Mrs. Thaw and said he was
simply testing the credibility of Mrs.
Caine.
Mrs CaNe testified that Thaw had
told Mrs. Nesbit he would provide for
her and her son always If she would
consent to her daughters marriage to
him. Mrs. Nesbit promised to do her
best to have Evelyn consent.
Mrs. Tlmw, appearing more than
ever like schoolgirl in the simple
little blue suit and black velvet hat
she has worn ever since the trial be-
gan, moved Il bit nervously in the big
rome's opening questions. They had
to do with her signatures to certain
papers. some of which the prosecutor
declared were receipts for money Mrs.
Thaw had drawn from the Mercantile
Trust company in 1902. $25 week.
Mr.. Delmas protested against the dis
trlet attorney making these statements
and noted an exception. Mrs. Thaw
said she was not sure that all of the
signatures we're her own. They looked
very much like her writing, she added
Who provided the money for the girl
nt the Mercantile Trust company WAS
not developed.
MIR. Jerome asked about the trip to
Europe.
O. When Mr.. Thaw proposed TO you
in Paris did you love him sufficiently
to marry him? A. Yes.
O. Was there any reason other than
the event in your life with Stanford
White that prevented your accepting
him? A. None.
o. Did you have reason for refus-
ing MIR Thaw except your experiences
with AIr White? A. None.
O. 1t was your great love for him.
then, that led YOU to this renuncia-
tion? There were no selfish motives:
A. Yes.
0. .knd you gave him no other rea-
SON: A. No
O. What part Of 1908 did you tell
him your story involving Stanford
white? A. In June.
Q. Your early life was spent in Penn