The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Regarded as One of the Most Famous
in New York Criminal Annals.

New York, Jan. 2S.-The trial of
Harry Kendall Thaw, slayer of Stan
ford White the noted architect, is re-
garded as one of the most famous cases
in the criminal history of New York
state. The prominence of the Thaw
family socially, the wealth of his par
ents, the circumstances surrounding
the young mans marriage to Evelyn
Nesbit the artists model and chorus
girl. and the Spectacular scene in the
midst of which he fired the bullets into
the breast of the man who he claimed
had betrayed his wife, all tend to at
tract an interest to the trial extending
from one end of the country to the
other.
For long time an effort has been
made to have young Thaw rely upon
a defense of emotional insanity" but
he steadfastly has declined to give his
assent to any such plan. and in his de-
termination not to agree to hide behind
cloak of insanity the cause which he
impatently asserts to be Just. he has
at one time and another since his inn
prisonment dismissed several of the
lawyers engaged to help in his defense.
among them a former governor Of the
state of New York.
The players in this extraordinary
tragedy of real life are each of them
interesting. Harry Thaw. the ever
wayward son of rich and indulgent
parents, had become widely known
throughout the country prior to the
killing of Stanford White by reason of
the publicity given to many of his
eScapades by the newspapers. His
father. the late William Thaw. was one
of Pittsburg's richest men. He had
early seen that Harry was not to be en-
trusted with large income lest he
give himself over to a life of luxurious
idleness and liberty. So when the elder
Thaw died he provided that Harry
Thaw should have only $4,000 a year.
The bulk of the estate went to Mrs.
William Thaw. whose indulgent love
for her children was soon made appar-
ent in the manner in which she lavish
ed money upon them. Harry Thaw had
but to ask whatever sum he chose and
the mother gave it to him. He aban-
doned his $500. a year income from the
estate to his valet. 1t is said that the
young mans, expenditures often aver
aged as high as $4,000 and 100000
year.
Four or five years ago the Thaw fam
lily came into unusual prominence
through the announcement of the en-
Ragement of Harry Thaw's sister to
the Earl of Yarmouth. This young
English nobleman had been in America
for two years or more at that time. He
was entertained at Newport and at the
end of successful season there. during
which he had led the gay set in many
cided to go upon the professional stage
to earn a livelihood in this country. His
efforts along this line were indifferently
successful ard then came the engage
ment and marriage to Miss Thaw.
Since that time the Earl and the Coun-
tess of Yarmouth have lived abroad.
Following the wedding of his sister.
Harry Thaw also went abroad. When
he returned to this country two years
ago he remained in New York instead
OF going to his mothers home in Pitts
burg 1t was not long before he was
seen always in company with a beauti-
ful Noung girl. Evelyn Nesbit who
had graduated from the studio to the
stage. Young Thaw and Miss Nesbit
were central figures of many theater
and supper parties along Broadway.
and there appeared in one of the local
papers story to the effect that Thaw
and Miss Nesbit had been secretly
while abroad. The fact of the
wedding had not been disclosed. it was
declared. because of the fear that a
displeased mother might cut off the
support of her favorite SON. The
story of the wedding was taken up
everywhere and the young people
were kept busy with denials Their
affairs attracted so much attention
that they We're requested to move from
the fashionable hotel where they re-
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