Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-29

has declared seventy-nine times that she
would take the stand and annihlate Harry
Thaw with her testimony, according to the
New York papers. To offset these stories
there have been. just three score and nine
teen denials by the much-pestered Mrs.
Holman. The denials in this instance are
worth vastly more than the first reports,
for they usually have come from either
Mrs. Holman or her husband. 1t is hardly
likely that Harry Thaws mother-in-law
will take the stand. There are certain let
ters, published soon after the Madison
Square Roof Garden tragedy. which passed
between Stanford White and the former
Mrs. Nesbit and which would make q
somewhat painful or
deal for the woman who called upon White
to help her to overthrow Thaw in the at
fections Of the little artists model. Mrs.
Holman may have a bitter dislike for the
prisoner now at the bar. but it Is not gen.
orally and sanely believed she will go to
the extent Of becoming a witness for the
state. But Mrs. Holman has not yet en-
tered into the actual picture Of the trial
and may for the time be disregarded.
The Main Effort,
Inc main effort of some Of the spicy spe.
cialists who are writing Imaginative chron-
lcies OF the laws battle for Harry Thaw's
lie seems to be directed to keeping on
hand a supply of a1most-reasons for the
daily advertised breaks between the aged
mother and youthful wife of the prisoner.
to say nothing Of gathering together a lot
OF never-fncidents which may be inter-
preted into snubs Of the young woman by
the elder. Tho specialists have got to keep
busy. The heart thrillers and pathos pur-
veyors have their particular work each day.
the Startling Line Of Defense" specialists
get their wonderful DEMONSTRATIONS into
print under big black headlines, the Mrs.
Holman to Testify and mot to Testify
are ever on the job. The daily i'm
pressions Of the proceedings signed by tho
'exes" and 'tnears" of many professions
have their value as space filters, and along
with these must go the every evening batch
Of "Split in the Thaw Family dope. dope
Is the word; there Is none other in or out
Of the dictionary that suits.
It should be remembered that where there
never has been accord there can never be
dissension. Mrs. William Thaw and the
her son Harry brought her
from the stage and the studios have been
and still are about as intimate as oil and
water ever can become. Would it not be
too much Of the ambitious and
over-indulgent mother to clasp this little
bit of humanity to her heart when she had
planned for all her children such brilliant
marriages as that of her daughter Alice to
the titled and versatile young Englishman,
the Earl of Yarmouth, who first came into
tame through his activities in amateur
theatricals at Newport and then made
professional tour Of the United States with
doubtful success Harry Thaw was per-
aaps his mothers favorite son. AS she sits
IN court this white-haired woman. whose
might be regarded as severe II 1t
we're not for the loving gentleness which
seems to pour from her eyes, commands
the sympathy Of every person in the crowd
ID room. She seldom takes her eyes from
her prisoner-son. She seems lost in food
If thinking. Worry for this wayward boy
had brought lines to her strong, earnest,
proud face long before the shots that took
him to s, cell in '.Murderers' Row. in the
rombs were fired on that fateful summers
light seven months ago.
Does Not Talk Much.
Sometimes this elderly gentlewoman sits
FIR an hour or more without speaking q
word. When she has CHANGED to be seated
directly beside the little Nesbit girl the
reporters have heralded the
TACT that her silence Ia q confirmation OF
the reports that there had been trouble
within the family circle. Mrs. Thaw Is
UNDERGOING the most terrible ordeal that
IAN ever come to a mother. The pride she
has felt in her family, her position. and her
wealth has no part in her demeanor as she
sits crushed and hurt. sore OF heart ana
sick with fear as she hears the state call
ing for the life Of her son. Her Wnoie
frame seems to shudder as District At
Eorney Jerome makes constant use OF tne
phrase that ''the penalty of murder shall
be DEATH" The discussion OF pr0priety OF
capital punishment with some OF the
talesmen summoned for jury duty seemed
to Mrs. Thaw.
After the exclusiveness to which she has
been accustomed and to which her wealth
gave her title. Mrs. Thaw must ma II
hard. indeed, to sit In court to be stared
It, commented upon, and sketched by art
sits, good and bad, for hours at time.
There ID nothing. however. she would not
undergo for this boy who has caused her
20 much trouble. Cut OF by his fathers
will with only the paltry allowance Of ,-,o00
year, Harry Thaw was allowed by his
mother to draw at will upon her own In
come. Often his annual expenditures of re-
cent years had mounted up to above $780,
100 The indulgent mother has never been
able to say no to this boy.
When all the scandal about his trips
abroad With Evelyn Nesbit, and the sub
sequsnt reports and denials Of their mar
riage came TO Mrs. Thaw's ears she &c ut
for Harry. She pleaded with him, cajoled
him. but It was all to no purpose. Stub
AonsS n