New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-08
Former Chorus Girl in Remarkable Story, Gives Motive
for Husbands Alleged Insane Act
LAYS HER RUIN AT WHITES DOOR
Says Architect Gave Her Wine Which Made Her UDconscou-Dea Secures
Admission of Defendants Leuers-Cnl to Resume Testimony

Evelyn Nesbt Thaw went the witness
stand yesterday morning in defence of her hus-
band, Harry h. Thaw, and remained there prac-
tically all of the court day. In the course of an
examination. which lasted about three and a
half hours she gave her lifes history in detail
including her meeting and subsequent relations
with White, the ardent courtshp of Thaw and
their marriage and the Of the fateful night
OF June 25. 1906.
Mrs. Thaw called by the defence TO supply
the testimony needed to support its contention
that the defendant had learned something about
the architects treatment Of Evelyn Nesblt that
had caused insane idea to form in his brain
that grew with the years until it eliminated in
the impulse that caused him 10 shoot White
Madison Square roof garden.
In her story told to the jury yesterday Mrs.
Thaw gave a motive for the shooting by laying
her ruin to Stanford White She had first been
led by Mr.. Delmas to tell of the dinner at the
Cafe Martin. the shooting the roof garden
and Of her marriage to Thaw April 4, 1905,
Then the examining lawyer jumped back to the
summer Of 1903, when she and Thaw were in
Paris 1t was at this time. she said. that Thaw
first proposed marriage to her and she had re-
fused him.
In stating the reasons to Mr.. Thaw why YOU
had refused him, did you state a reason based
on an event Of your life with which Stanford
White was connected?" Mr.. Delmas asked.
Yes" said Mrs. Thaw.
TELLS OF FIRST MEETING WITH WHITE
Then, in the form OF relation of the confes-
sion she made to Thaw, the witness told Of meet
ing White. through a girl friend. In August.
1901, when she was only sixteen years old. She
went to a luncheon party given by White at a
house in West oath street. she said and after
that met the architect several times always with
the knowledge and consent Of her mother. Some
times the parties were in the Gath street house
and sometimes in Whites apartments in the
tower of Madison Spare Garden
/ After the acquaintance had been continued
/ for some time. she said White asked her mother
/ if she didn't want to go to her home In Pitts
/ burg Mrs Nesbit objected that she did no,
| like to leave her daughter. but White promised
! to look out for her, and Mrs. Nesbit left town
| the witness said
| Two days afterward White sent her a note
| to come TO a party at the oath street house, and
she went there after the theatre. Only White
was present she said After supper White in
vited her to inspect a part of the house she
hadn't SEEN and they went upstairs TO "a
strange room" filed with cabinets paintings. etc
| Adjoining a bedroom, with a tiny little
table in The centre. which was a bottle oi
champagne and one glass. At Whites urgent
solicitation she said she drank glass of the
| wine and Il don't know whether it min
ute after or two minutes after. but pounding
| began in my ears. then the whole room seemed
| TO go around. everything got very black
NEARLY ALL THE COURT WEEPS.
The girls voice broke at this point. and al
| though she did not break down, it was only
| with the greatest effort she forced back the
tears. Some OF the women in the courtroom
sobbed openly. and more than one man used
| his handkerchief vigorously.
! when l woke up I was in bed, she continued
"I screamed and screamed and screamed
During the whole of the time his wife was
| on the stand. Thaw had not taken his eyes from