The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-02-20
ORDEAL FOR
MRS. THAW
Young Wife Asserts Her Life
Story Was True.
WHITES EVIL DEEDS
Dead Architect Did Not Cease
Pursuit Of Girl After Her
Marriage.

NEW YORK, Feb. 20.-Nlrs. Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw entered upon the ordeal
Of her cross examination, and before
District Attorney Jerome had had the
witness In charge for half an hour he
had secured from the court n ruling
which apparently opens the way for
bringing into the trial OF Harry X.
Thaw all manner OF evidence which
may tend TO discredt the defendants
wife.
Heretofore II has been held that the
rules OF evidence protected young Mrs.
Thaw and that regardless OF whether
her story was true or false the fact
that she had told II to her husband
was the one essential point. Mrs
Thaw had been allowed TO repeat the
story 20 that the Jury might Judge as
70 Its effect In Infringing the mind OF
the man on trial for the murder OF
Stanford White.
Mrs. Thaw. appearing more than
ever like n schoolgirl In the simple
little blue suit and black velvet hat
she has worn ever since the trial be-
gan. moved n bit neryousiy In the biz
witness chair and awaited Mr.. Ic.
rome's opening questions. They had
10 do with her signatures 10 certain
papers. ssne Of which the prosecutor
declared were receipts for money Mrs
Thaw had drawn from the Mercantile
Trust company IN 1902. So week.
Mr.. Delmas protested against the dis
trict attorney making these statements
and noted an exception. Mrs Thaw
said she was not sure that all Of the
signatures were her own They looked
very much like her writing. she added
Who provided the money for the girl
nj the Mercantile Trust company was
not developed.
Mr. Jerome asked about the trip TO
Europe.
o. When AFR. Thaw proposcd 10 you
In Paris aid you love him sufficiently
10 marry hlmf A. Yes.
Q. Was there any reason other than
the event In your life with Stanford
white that prevented your accepting
hlmi A. None.
O. Did you have a reason for refus-
Ing Mr. Thaw except your experiences
with Mr.. whltcl A. None.
O. II was your great love for him.
then. that led you TO this renuncia'
iionl There were no selfish motlvesi
A. Yes.
Y. And you gave him no other rea'
soni A. No.
o. What part Of 1898 did you tell
him your story involving stanford
whltei A. In June.
q. Your early life was spent In Penn.
sylvanlai A. Yes.
O. And you lived a pure. good ilfei
A. Yes.
o. 80 you grew up 10 sixteen years
20 simple In homo life that after all
these terrible events the hrst poignant
sorrow was stili stamped on your
mindi A. Yes.
Q. You went on the stage here IN
New York still rs pure as you were In
your home life In Pittsburgh A. Yes
q. Whom did you first become aware
Of the fact that you were made core
spondent In the Ledsrcr divorce casei
Mr.. Delmss-f object II IL not IN
evidence In any way.
The witnsss-f read II In the news
papers. II vas IN 1904.
Mrs. Thaw's confidence grew AZ the
cross examination went on. aud she
was always ready with answers. Mfr
Jerome jumped from point to point IN
her story and under the plea OF testing
her credlbilIty was allowed 10 ask
many pertinent questions. lie wanted
20 know when she first heard that she
had been named az q correspondent IN
, the George W. Jsdsrer divorce case.
Mr.. Delmas Jumped 10 his feet with
! a protest Mrs. Thaw called him over
10 where she sst. whispered something
. In his ear. ana the attorney withdrew
his objection.
II read Of u 10 the pswspspsrs." said
! the witness chesriby whsn Mr., jerome
repeated the susstioh,
The prosecutor sought 10 show thai
! Ms. Thnv had gene 10 Abraham
} Hummel for advice with regard to the
1 divorce proceedings. but was halted b,
an objection from Mr.. Delmas, whicl
the court sustained. Justice Fitzgerald
said the question had nothing 20 d.
with Mrs. Thaw's story 70 her husband
and did not affect her crcdlbllIty.
. Mr.. Jerome brought out that Mrs
Thaw had written 20 Stanford Whit
from Boulognc after Thaw had pro
posed 10 her IN Paris. Did you als'
cable Mr.. whittier he asked. The wit
b ness could not remember.
D For the FIRST time since the trial o.
!. Harry Thaw started Jerome practical
= ly announced that II the evidence FOL
!. the defense should show that Thav
n was insane at the time OF the murder
the prosecution would close lis cas-
forthwith. The plain inference II tina
be will move for the appointment OF
commission In lunacy without onerns
!. any testimony FOR the state In rcbuttal
o Jerome made the admission when mr.
o gulng that bis cross examination o