The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-09


Mrs. WILLIAM THAw.
brief When Mr.. Delmas had deity
limited her examination to the change
she had noted in her sons condition
following his return from Paris in
1903. after EVELYN Nesbit had told
him her life story. and when District
Attorney Jerome had. with great con
sideration. conducted a short and in
effectual cross examination. the moth
er love welled strong in Mrs Thaw
and she felt she had not done her
all. She was 10th to leave the wit.
ness chair.
There is the question of hereGity.
she protested when both Mr.. Delmas
and Mr.. Jerome told her she nigh,
step down.
Il have asked you, madam, all that
is considered necessary" said Thaw
attorney with the utmost Difference.
Mrs. Thaw half rose. hesitated, and
was about 10 sit down again when the
leading counsel for the defense Offer
ed her his hand to assist her from
the stand
Twice during her recital OF the
events which had caused her to fear
that all was not right with her son,
Mrs. Thaw broke down and was un
able to proceed. Her face flushed
and she made an effort to speak, but
the words would not come After a
few moments. Justice Fitzgerald ask
ed felicitously IT she felt able to pro
coed. and Mrs. Thaw. evidently mucn
chaerined that her great grief had
overcome her strong will of resistance
nodded in the affirmative. She de-
clincd a glass Of water. made an ef
tort once more to proceed. but failed
Justice Fitzgerald then interposed a
relief for which the elderly woman
facing him must have been deeply
grateful. lie said that as many Of the
witness remarks had been uttered in
very low voice IT would be neces
sary to have the stenographer read
all her testimony mp to that time To
the Jury When the reading was ended
Mrs. Thaw had regained her compos
ure. and was able to proceed TO the
end Of her narrative.
Wickedest Man in New York.
She said that when Harry came
home in 1893 he seemed depressed
md apparently had lost all interest
in life. He passed sleepless nights
would often leave the table at meals
and 20 into the parlor to play upon
The piano. the music growing softer
and softer. until it finally died away
She told in a motherly way OF her
I solicitude for the boy.
"He told me a wicked man-prob-
ably the wickeiest man in all New
York-had ruined his life"
II was not until some time after
c.e had offered this explanation OF the
in hin that she learned the
art Or of the young woman who was -
q her al her daughter-in-law. Mrs
!, Dut' his OF her son breaking down
S 20 .Ies peach Pittsburg, and afterward
Vio I high Cit it was all because OF
n that Verdict hch prevented the young
words co could SSU ask, aeing at his side. Mrs.
oi'iihi'- fed" 10 ne" ioiN -
The verdict wqd of giving her
UGH q everyone with evideGge one
, VINO showed how the sentyirl's past
trust And when the news WI, a closed
Sc mar the town it seemed that in any
streets was glad When mar.
susded brothers lett the courthouse ,ho
loVe their friends WAS on all sides
angeis their congratulations.
'pds OF -, ,,,,.,. ,.,,,.,.,,.,,,,,
; at his NV =" '''''''D Wv WV
James Strother declared he wa
4 won ly pleased with the verdict, but
n men had never feared conviction.
md lie Philip Strotner volced aoop, u
sweet sentiment as bis brother. He
\ who ielt that his cause was right add
id not never felt for an instant that he
looked not be acquitted.
at French Strother, the brother
mother stigated the investigation VIII
Lanes brought ont Bywaters' improI
nv ber lions with his sister, declared tn,
Of his brothers was righteous {
he felt from the start that they v
>. indicated.
cloud Is The jurors marched into the
er went r,ow az o.3O o'clock To take I
moving from the Court. The courtroo
was crowded.
Judge Harrison had merely Civ
as it the necessary apers--a letter WI
ony of Philip Strother TO his brother,
,tep by letter written by Bywaters to
, in all man who later became his wife,
tn 90 gram from Philip TO his brother,
p and the indictment and the instruc
r,ss of the Court. 1t had required iu
avinR a minutes to do that.
sr. Mr.. A THRILLING MOMENT.
'ton ior An hour and a half pass
le was not a word from the jury room
y Walk at l1:10 O'Clock, there came the
ing 10 cry of the deputy sheriff Tor oil
quot silence the jurors took their seat
meo Tue I'VE have found the verdict v
insis'eu hand you" said the foreman.
lttie oi Clerk Coons read aloud:
sseht an 1--WE, the jury, find James A. al
W ner J. Strother not guilty.
story OF MANY IhA"S VI 'o''
ible side In an instant there was III
and in made toward the brntners'
woman, stopped in a second, and then
quiet, for Judge Harrison had b.
hand. Then the sight OF Mrs
AGE Strother, who bad buried her la
ve that hands on her husbands knee,
feed 90 ike tired child, stopped the me
e. "He TIVE ron CONGRATULATE,
L..
hat the When the Judge nnlsneu nis
where the jury, dignity was cast as
ot COM James and Philip Strother were
arriage. by their friends and RELATIVE