The National tribune., 1907-02-14
PLAIN FACTS IN THE THAw CASE


The plain facts in the nasty Thaw
case, which is occupying so much space
in the papers of the country, are that
it is a cold, brutal murder which has
been given a world of nauseating gla-
NOR by the wealth and standing of the
parties involved. Stanford White, the
victim, seems to have been a man of
exceptional ability in his profession,
which was coupled with traits of the
utmost depravity. He is what is
termed in the neither world a "chippy-
chaser" That is one of those scoun-
drels who pursue young girls. These
men do not usually seek their victims
among the more respectable classes of
society including the daughters of hon.
est mechanics and tradesmen, but find
them in that half-world designated as
the sporting world. These girls and
their mothers and relatives are all
more or less off color, and Evelyn Thaw
clearly belonged to that class. She and
her mother were persons that would
have had very little standing in any
community in the country. The col
umns of sickening mush which are be-
Ing printed about her beauty and at
tractiveness are the product of sensa-
tional writer's who are getting SO much
per line and riot in adjectives.
Common-sense people who have ac-
tually seen her. describe her as a quite
commonplace young woman with a
chGracterless baby-face, and big heifer-
like eyes. Her form is not such as
would attract attention in any bevy of
young women. Her brain and will
power are of the same mediocre stamp.
Thaw is clearly a degenerate little
beast, the son of very rich man, who
had strongly depraved tendencies.
Thaw ran thru a coarse of Grass de-
bauchery with long list of accom-
plices of the other sex of debased char
acter. In one of his mad whims he
tim. White seems to have had some
streaks of good in him, and he edu-
Gated this girl and took care of her
family, educating also her brother.
This seems to have greatly irritated
the vile young Thaw, who married Eve
lyn and then became insanely jealous
Of a man who had treated her as
wrongfully as he had, but had after
wards made some seeming amends. The
murder resulted. Were it not for
Thaw's millions and for Stanford
Whites standing as an architect. the
,,yhn off air
last degree, and an ordinary communi-
ty out West would have hanged Thaw
and considered itself well rid of two
scoundrels. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw's
story of her ruin is cheap dime-novel
story with but little truth in it and
the vigorous cross-examination of At
torney Jerome. 1t is entirely too dime
novelist to obtain much credence with
the quite intelligent jury that has been
empanelled to try the case.
All the details of the lives and char
acters of the principal actors in the
tragedy are revolving to the last degree,
and deserve not one-thousandth part of
the space and attention which has been
given. To repeat, If all those involved,
including the baby-faced little degen-
crate. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, had only
been members of the same stratum of
the neither world which is to be found in
every city, with no more than the usual
money of that class. the affair would
have been brought to a speedy conclu-
sion by jury promptly sentencing
Thaw to death for cold-blooded, pre-
meditated murder, and the community
rejoicing in the fact Of a happy deliv-
orance, which, to some extent, purified
the s''m atmosphere Of the city.