Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-08
THAW DEFENSE ALL IN
CALIFORNIA LAWYER WILL OF
FER NO MORE TESTIMONY.

NEW YORK March S.-There Is TO De
no further direct testimony offered for the
defense In the trial of Harry X. Thaw LOT
the killing of Stanford White.
Whether Mr. Delmas plumes himself, as
reported on his personal resemblance to
the great Napoleon. there is something
suggestive of Napoleonic strategy In this
sudden tactical stroke whereby he reverses
in an instant precedent, previous plans OF
battle and all the expectations of his fell
low generals, and stakes the life of his
client, as it were, on single throw. IN
cidentally. no doubt he hopes to discon-
cert at least temporarily, the plans of the
prosecution and to place Mr. Jerome IN
the position of seeking the courts in
diligence for a further delay in the prog
ress of the case.
May Please Jurors.
1t is thought to be more than possible
also that in the mind of the astute Cali
fornia lawyer. who has never set overmuch
value on the efficacy of so-called expert
evidence the side which voluntarily re-
ueves the jurymen of the hardship of en-
during more of the kind of pabulum of
which they have had already a surfeit Will
win the gratitude if not the favor of those
twelve good men and true.
AS explained by counsel for the defense.
Mr.. Demas suddenly came to this con-
clusion after he had retired on Wednesday
night, when the day lad closed with the
examination and cross-examnation of
Harry Thaw's mother. The conclusion
forced itself on him, as he thought 1t all
over wakefully, that the logical as well
the dramatic end of the defendants pre-
sentation of direct testimony had been
reached with the appearance on the stand
of his silver-haired mother.
To introduce two more experts, however
distinguished in reputation, probably
would mean mere retraverSing of ground
already thoroughly covered without in
jectng any elements of new strength. 1t
would enable the district attorney to sub
Ject these experts to another long and
tedious cross discrimination, extending prob
ably well into next week and whatever
beneficial effect the appearance OF the
older Mrs. Thaw may have had upon the
sympathies of the jury would be largely
drowned out under a second deluge of
medico-legal disputation.
With his decision practically made Mr..
Deimas yesterday morning dispatched Mr..
Peabody to see Harry Thaw In the Tombs
and Mr.. Hartridge TO consult the defend
ants mother in the Hotel Lorraine. Mr..
Peabody remained with Thaw in the coun-
sci room of the prison until half-past 10
O'Clock, when he retired because of the ar
rival of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, who was with
her husband until half-past u.
4udW - OellSuLeO-
Thaw was delighted with what he be-
ieyei will be the good influence OF his
mothers testimony. His lawyers have so
repeatedly affirmed their belief that he
must be acquitted that he is now in a
state bordering upon mental exaltation,
and he warmly assented to Mr. Delmas'
new plan. especially as it is likely to
shorten the trial by perhaps a week. . =
Not long after Evelyn Thaw had left the
Tornbs the defendants mother arrived and
remained in conference with her son for
more than an hour She then returned to
the Lorraine in her electric brougham An
other of Thaw's visitors was Daniel O Reil-
~. also of his legal staff.
When kilograms came announcing. the
acquittal of the StrOtner brothers of the
charge of murder in Virginia court after
plea not unlike Thawt. a battalion of
newspaper reporters was sent to the foIrfbs
TO get n talk with Thaw and to show him
the dispatches. The defendant denied him
self to the first of them, and when some
five or six had sent up requests for inter-
views his patience suecumbed. and he in
structed the Tombs messenger to inform
any others who should call that he had
nothing to say.
Mr. Hartridge had conference OF two
hours with Mrs. William Thaw in the
Lorraine after her return from her visit
to the TOmbs. 1t was reported shes had
not hesitated to express her dissatisfac
ton with the summary way in which her
testimony had been curtailed on Wednes-
day when Mr.. Delmas courteously but
firmly refused to permit her to say any
thing on the subject OF heredity. IL was
even asserted that Mrs. Thaw had eX-
changed some warm words with one of
the lawyers for the defense and had
threatened To make public certain of the
statements which she had hoped to make.