Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-21
MRS. THAW'S MEMORY POOR
Defendants Wife Fails to Recall Many
Inoifsnts Of Her Life
cRosS-ExiMEATloN IS SEVERE
Fact t'.S~ - ite Deposited S1.35O
rs redit Brought Out
y my Pointed Queries
~ y Asked.
cRoss-ExiMsATloN IS sEVEI

| Thaw today at the trial OF her husband
District Attorney Jerome brought out the
| fact that in 1902 Stanford White deposited
| the sum Of $3.50 with a New York Trust
company with Instructions that it should be
: paid to Evelyn Nesbit at the rate of IS a
week. Mrs. Thaw frankly admitted receiv-
| ing a number OF checks from the trust
company. but she would not admit that
there was provision that she should re-
ceive the money only when out Of employ
ment. The prosecutor spent nearly the en-
tire afternoon in trying to make Mrs. Thaw
admit that this was true. but as often and
in as many ways he put the question to
her, she gave the one answer: Il don't
remember"
Mrs. Thaws inability to remember
number Of things about which Mr.. Jerome
( questioned her was by far the most ma
/ terial element in the cross examination.
The district attorney delved into her past
life with familiarity as to details and
store Of general knowledge which at times
seemed to amaze all who heard, not ex-
cepting the defendants counsel themselves.
Pointed Questions Asked.
Mr.. jerome indicated early in his ques-
tioning that he had no disposition to spare
Mrs Thaw's feelings in any way. He in
terrogated her most pointedly as to her
men acquaintances OF the past. He laid
| especial stress on her acquaintance with
James A. Garland, who figured for the first
time in the case. Mrs. Thaw said she
knew Garland before she met White.
"were not you named as correspondent
in the Garland divorce case?' asked Mr..
jerome.
Mrs. Thaw was shaking her head when
Mr.. Delmas objected. He demanded that
the record OF the divorce case be brought
into court that it might speak for itself
Justice Fitzgerald overruled the objection
but Mr.. Jerome withdrew the question.
Mr.. Jerome questioned the witness about
her manner of posing for artists, and
brought from her denial that she ever
posed in the nude. Mr. Jerome did not
mince words. Many photographs of Mrs.
Thaw were introduced in evidence. Mr..
Jerome during the morning session piled
the young woman with questions to what
disposition she had made of the letters
written to her by Stanford White. Some.
she said, had been destroyed and some she
had given to her husband. When the dis
trict attorney was pressing for an answer
as to what had become of some of the let
ters, Thaw leaned far over and whispered
to his counsel in a voice audible to those
nearest to him: Stanford White stole
them"
Attorney O'Reilly thereupon said aloud:
stanford White got them
'Tf counsel desires to testify we wfll be
very glad to have him do It," Mr. Jerome
remarl1ad sarcastically.
Letters from white.
Later Mr. Jerome indicated that he had
in his possession letters written by STAN
ford White to Evelyn Nesbit, saying he
would show her the letters to see IL they
would not brighten her memory. He
changed his mind. however and the letters
were not produced. Mr.. Jerome demanded
, that Thaws counsel deliver to the court
the Stanford White letters, but they made
no response.
Mr. Jerome was assisted materially In
his cross-examination by typewriter state
ments made by Mrs. Thaw's mother and
by Howard Nesbit her brother. He con-
suited the statements from time to time
and Mr.. Delmas let this fact become known
to the jury by remarking about 1t.
, Mr. Jeromes cross-examination may re-
qure several days yet. He jumped about
today from one part of Mrs. Thaws story
and one period of her life TO another in a
| way that bafied any attempt to tell how
far he had progressed with his attack.
. He apparently intends 10 take every ad-
vantage of the ruling of yesterday which
, l allows MN Niuc la1NhAN III et1eAhe NAN
credibility of the witness.
Mr. Delmas. contrary to expectations,
interposed few objections. He is evidently
! preparing however, for an extended re-
direct examination. and this. together with
Mr. Jerome's eross-examination on the re-
direct promises to keep the prisoners wife
on the witness stand for an indefinite Pc
> riod.
Mrs. Thaw SeIf-POssessed.
! Mrs. Thaw seemed perfectly self-pos-
sessed at every stage Of the croes-examina-
ton. At times her voice trembIed, but al
most always II was clear and empha tic.
, She fenced with the prosecutor continu-
ously. corrected him at times as to as
sumptions drawn from previous answers,
and occasionally told him his questions
were entirely too long TO permit OF proper
answer. The young woman seemed to be
swayed by the district attorneys mood.
z When his voice was soft and perhaps in
4 sinuating. she answered in the same low
i tone When Mr.. Jerome would become
i aroused and snap questions at her in a
loud voice, she replied in kind. When the
: prosecutor would persist with a question
she had answered two or three times, Mrs.
K Thaw would finally reply with an emphasis
!, on each word speaking slowly, distinctly
: and dehantly.
. The defendant was always alert to catch
: every word. He seemed impatient at times
e al some Of the questions put BY the prose
cutOr and kept up a running ire Of whis-
: pered comment with his attorneys.
! Justice Fitzgerald Threatened.
y Justice Fitzgerald. who is presiding at the
Thaw trial. received a threatening letter
i yesterday. II was sent from ST. Louis and
accused the Judge OF siding with Jerome
The letter threatened to kill Justice Fitz-
; gerald and District Attorney Jerome II
Thaw is convicted
I Man who Drafted VIII.
PITTSBURG. Feb. N.-Attorney Johr
McCleave today admitted that he drafted
Harry Thaws first viii and that he was
asked TO go 10 New York TO testify In his
; defense. but had refused. Attorney Nc.
d Cleave gave IL as his opinion that ThaN
y was perfectly sane when he drew the in
s strument He said he knew nothing abou
J. the codicil offered In evidence and declares
y he failed TO recognise any portions Of th'
3 viii which he had written as those pub
l. lished In the newspapers
q Mexican Railroad Man Ends Life
c FL. PASO. Tex. Feb. IA private tele.
L. gram received here from Mexico City saw