The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-02-09
EVELYN THAW
TELLS STORY OF
HER WRONGS
Reveals Her Life With Stanford
White, Who Husband Killed.
OFTEN cHoKED WITH so6s


orueoed With Wine and Her Ruin
Accomplished-Tod All to Thsw
When He Proposed Marriage In
1eos-Prisoner Wept AS Wife Gave
Testimony.
New York. Feb. S.-Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw told her story. To save the life
of her husband. charged with murder.
she barred to the world the innermost
secrets OF her sOul-a portrayal for
which a sanctuary were a more fttinS
place than the crowded. gaping court
room. II was the same story she told
Harry Thaw in Paris in 1903. when he
had pleaded with her TO become his
wife-the confession OF one who felt
there was an insurmountable barrier
to her ever becoming the bride OF the
man she loved
In the big witness chair she APP
peared but a slip OF a girl. and She
told the pitiful story Of her eventful
young life in frank. girlish way.
When tears came unbidden TO her big
brown eyes and slowly trickled their
way down scarlet cheeks. she strove in
vain 70 keep them back. Though the
lump in her throat al times seemed
about 10 smother her she forced the
words from trembling lips. and by
marvellous display OF courage. which
took her willingly TO her staggering
ordeal. she shook of a depression
which once threatened to bring about
absolute collapse.
As the young wife gave the nara
tive Of her girl life and referred to the
early struggles Of herself and her
mother to keep body and soul to-
gether. of how gaunt poverty stood
ever at the door. and how she finally
was able to earn livelihood by pos
ing for photographers and artists. she
won the murmured sympathy OF the
throng which filled every available
space in the big court room.
Then came the revelation Of the
wreck of that girlhood at the age Of
l6. She told the story OF her meeting
with Stanford White. the story of the
sumptuOus studio apartment whose
dingy exterior gave no hint OF the
luxurious furnishings within; of a vel
vet covered swing in which one could
swing until slippered toes crashed
through the paper of japanese para
sol swung from the ceiling; the story
OF a glass of champagne. of black,
whirling sensations and Of mirrOred
bedroom walls. In short. she told all
the story.
Don't scream So It is all over 1t
is all right"
And this was Stanford White?'
The question came from Mr.. Del
mas. now conducting the defense OF
Harry Thaw.
Eyes. sir"
Stood the Ordeal Well.
The stiffness of the crowd, which
was big. bustling, showing and snarl-
ing over some especially coveted seat
when court convened. was its own
tribute to the effect of the girls story.
Into the narrative there entered moth
ing OF the woman of the world. A girl
in face and figure Mrs Thaw was still
a girl as she withstOOd an ordeal which
might well have startled into terror
a woman Of mature years and harsher
experiences than hers Into the mar
rative she injected many little touches
of a young girls hopes and disap-
pointments OF her early life she re-
lated how her mother had gone from
Pittsburg to Philadelphia to secure as
sistance. and how she and her brother
Howard-the brother who has been in
court many days, but not once has
gone near his sister-were placed on
a train by friends and sent on to their
mother. She recalled that the two lit.
tie travellers had trouble with the con
ductor. who wanted to put their cat
out of the car. But, she naively added,
they held fast possession Of It, just
the same.
She told of her arrival in New York,
of her life here. and eventually the &C
ceptance by her mother Of the thrice
refused invitation Of a girl Of the
theatre to meet some Of her friends
at luncheon. The girls mother told
Evelyn's mother they were people in
New York society and perfectly
nroner else she would not let her girl
go with them.
when she came for me in the han
SON." said the witness. Il remember
hoping we we're going to the Waldorf.
| had heard so much about it and
wanted so to go there. But the han.
som stopped in front of a dingy looking
building in West oath street, and |
was told to get out Mother had
dressed me- Ny skirts were just to
my shoe tops then"
This was in August, 1901.
Her Meeting With White.
HE was a big and fat and ugly
mani remember him meeting us at
the head OF three flights of stairs, ."
she continued. He gave me presents
and my mother let me go to other par.
ties. Then he said my mother should
visit some friends In Pittsburg. She
said she could not leave me. He said
it would be all right; that he would
look after me. Finally she went. Then
came an invitation to a party, but no
one else was there-just two. They
all seem to have turned us down. he
said. After we had dined and want
ed to go home, he said had not seen
all of the apartment, and we went to
| the bedroom with the mirrors ali over