Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-19
Statement Made to Doc
tor Admitted Under
Protest
Defendants Will Offered as Evidence
to Show That His Mind Was
Affected Before Tragedy
Was Enacted
Ry Associated Press.

NEW YORK, FeD. lo-l never
wanted to shoot the creature. l never
wanted to kill him. l know he was
foul creature destroying the mothers
and daughters of America, but l
wanted through legal means to bring
him to trial l wanted to get him into
court-to bring him to justice. But
Providence took charge of it; it was an
act of Providence"
This is Harry X. Thaw's own story
of the killing of Stanford White. 1t
was told by him to DR.. Britton d.
Evans, the alienist, last August in the
Tombs. DR.. Evans today repeated the
prisoners words to the jury that Is
trying Thaw for his life.
District Attorney Jerome fought hard
last week against the introduction of
this evidence, which the defense be-
leves is conclusive proof that Thaw
did not know his act was wrong.
The testifying physicians had de-
clared that in their opinion Thaw was
insane at the time he made the state
ments. However, the rules Of evidence
permitted the introduction of the pris-
oner's words.
In further bulwarking their conten-
ton that Thaw was insane when he
killed Stanford White, the defendants s
counsel stated today in placing before
the jury the will executed by Thaw the
night of his marriage in April, 1905, and
codicil executed at the same time.
Iaropoa Ei1bfc Hard
Again Mr.. Jerome fought the evil
dence, but he significantly withdrew
his objections after DR.. Evans had
given it as his expert opinion that
Thaw was insane at the time he exc
cuted the will. The fact that the dis
trict attorney seems disposed to let in
testimony of every character, provided
there is preliminary opinion from the
witness that the man was of unsound
mind at the time of which the testi-
mony refers to, was taken today as
further indicating that Mr.. Jerome may
at the psychological moment if he deems
his hand strong enough, demand the
appointment of a commission to pass
on Thaw's present state of mind.
The will and the codicil were offered
in evidence as cumulative testimony of
Thaw's mental unsoundness prior to
the killing of White. In his will Thaw
provides that his executors should set
apart the sum of $50,000 to investigate
his death in case of a violent or suS-
picious end and for the prosecution of
the persons suspected of having taken
a hand in his taking off.
Leaves Money to Lawyers
In the codicil Thaw left to lawyer
in PittsburG $77O0 to be used in secur-
ing legal redress from Stanford White
I,
not allowed to be read, for the benefit
of four young women, Thaw declared,
who had been the victims of degrading
assaults" in a house furnished and
used for orgies by Stanford White and
other inhuman scoundrels"
Thaw also bequeathed sums of $25U0
each to Rev. DR.. Charles H. Parkhurst,
Anthony Comstock, and a lawyer named
in his codicil to be used in discovering
further alleged misdeeds by Stanford
White, and asking redress for the
women.
Drs. Hammond and Jeliffe will testify
tomorrow, probably on the improve
ment in Thaw's mind during his con-
finement in the Tombs. declaring that
the stress which caused the mental ex-
plosion was removed with the death of
Stanford White. 1t was also said to-
night that Mrs Evelyn Nesbit Thaw
may go on the stand tomorrow to COM
plete her story.
The trial today entered its fifth week.
DeImas Retained
The opening of court found Attorney
Delmas again in his accustomed place
at the head of Thaw's counsel table,
Notwithstanding reports of disagree
ments. Juror Bolton, whose wife died
last week, said he felt perfectly able to
go on with the trial. 1t was decided
that the jurors should not again be con-
fined until they finally retire to make
up their verdict.
DIR. Evans, who has been by far the
most important witness for the defense
among the medical experts, detailed at
great length his conversations with
Thaw at the Tombs.
He told Of how Thaw declared that
his lawyers and physicians were in a
conspiracy with the district attorney to
railroad" him off to an asylum and to
prevent his case from coming to trial
He declared they wanted to close this
matter up" Thaw told the physician
that In his attempts to bring Stanford
White to justice he had complained to
Dist riot Attorney JerOma and that tha