The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-27
7HAWs MOTHER ON STAND
Weeps as She TeKsofS Sons Brood
ing on Evelyn Nesbit's Fate.
Shut Off When She Volunteers Testi-
mony of Hereditary Influences
Wins Sympathy Of Court.

New York City.-Ready,to lay bare
TIE innermost secrets Of her own life
if by that sacrifice she could save the
life Of her son, the ~black-clad mother
OF Harry K. Thaw stepped into the
sweep of the public searchlight in the
criminal branch of the Supreme
Court, where he is on trial for the
killing of Stanford White,
AS by a touch of magic, the air Of
Tenderloin degradation that had
filled the courtroom seemed to van
ish. In its place there appeared an
atmosphere of refinement that came
as a welcome relief to the tinseled ar
ti1ciality.
Mrs. Thaw Is a motnerly looking
woman of perhaps sixty. Her hair is
silyery and was brushed back from a
prominent forehead. She was all in
black - gloves, gown and hat. AZ
black veil was thrown over her hat
almost touching her shoulders. The
furs which she wore at her throat
were removed soon, as the room was
close and warm.
All the testimony: that will be Of
fered in behalf of Thaw save the
opinion Of two experts as to his SAM
ity on the night he killed White went
to the jury with the story of Mrs.
Thaw. Her examination was brief
and her cross-examination brieferJ
The period covered was from the
time Thaw returned from Europe In
the late fall of 1903 to a short time
after his marriage to Evelyn Nesbit
on April 4, 1905. The mother told
how Thaw wouldremain up all night,
unable to sleep. sometimes sobbing,
and when she asked him why he was
thus affected he told her it was be-
cause a beautiful girl he knew had
been ruined by a scoundreI. Some
times, she said, he would leave the
dining table and she would find him
sitting in another room crying. By
degrees Thaw told her Evelyn Mes
bits story.
In March of 1905, while she was
staying in the South, her SON sent for
her to come to New York to meet
Evelyn Nesbit, and then asked her
making only one stipulation, the
WlIuSSS Sdlu,, duu StHdI MdS Iudtstu6 q
girls past in New York should be sas
closed book"
Although both Mr.. Delmas and
Mr.. Jerome treated Mrs. Thaw with
the greatest consideration and gen.
t~leness, she broke down ono or twice
and wept silently. She is evidently
a woman of much f1rmness OF characs
ter, as shown by the strong lines OF
her features, and she quickly re-
gained her compesure. Her son
watched her closely most OF the time.
but when he saw her weeping he, too,
buried his face in his hands and
wept.
1t was during Mr.. Thaw's exam1n-
alton that the possibility of the APP
pointment of a commission in 1unacy
came up. Mr.. Delmas had asked
Mrs. Thaw when she first learned
Evelyn Nesbit's identity. An objec-
ton by the District Attorney started
a discussion, during which he said
that the expert for the defense had!
testified that Thaw was insane in;
1908, in 1905 and in 1906, and the
presumption carried that he wassfn-
sane all that time. IF that is So,
why does it not carry right down to,
the present moment, 30 that under
the statute it becomes Your Honor's
duty to suspend this trial?" Mr..
Jerome asked.
THAT matter is not before me-
now" Justice Fitzgerald replied