The National tribune., 1907-02-14
THE THAw TRIAL.
The Real Opening OF the Great Sensa.
tional Case.

fne heHi UpeutnE or the Great Senl0.
tional Case.
The real trial of Harry Thaw began
| on Monday, Feb 4. with the examina-
! ton of witnesses. The courtroom was
not crowded. as the knowledge that
admission could not be gained had dis
couraged the curious. All the Thaws
were in their accustomed seats. but be-
fore the examination of witnesses be-
| gan, the Clerk announced that all per-
sons who were to appear in the case
| would be excluded from the room;
thereupOn Mrs. Thaw, the elder; Harry
| Thaw's young wife and Miss Mckenzie
at once took their departure. This
seemed to depress the prisoner, espec-
tally as his favorite sister. the Countess
| of Yarmouth, not to be a witness, was
absent on account of bad cold. Thaw
| looked very pale. and showed signs of
nervousness, tho his bearing was quiet
and dignifed. as 1t has been on each
occasion of his appearance in court.
Mr. Garvan opened for the prosecution
with speech of 10 minutes. making
simple statement of the facts in the
case. Then followed the examination
! of witnesses. the most Interesting Of
whom was young White, son Of the
| murdered architect. tall, we'll set-up,
handsome fellow of 10. student at
Harvard College. This young man
gave his slight testimony, simply that
he had dined with his father on the
night of the tragedy. in q way that in
stantly impressed the Judge and jury.
His manner was extremely quiet with
that repose which comes from refine
ment and cultivation combined with an
engaging, boyish frankness, and the lit
tie he had to say was said in clear,
ringing tones voice of unusual quail.
ity. During his testimony Thaw never
once looked at him.
The Defense Begins.
In two hours the prosecution had
finished, and the defense then took the
floor. Mr.. Gleason conducted the de-
fense on Tuesday, and his witnesses
| emerged so decidedly limp and ratified
from the fire of Mr.. Jeromes cross ex-
animation that it was felt his case had
lost ground rather than gained by it's
first days proceedings. There had
been some sort of disagreement among
Thaw's counsel presumably, for it was
expected that Mr.. Delmas would open
the case. On Wednesday, however.
this lawyer took command. Thaw
looked brighter and more cheerful, and
everyone at once felt the power of the
man. 1t was said that Evelyn Thaw
would begin her testimony that day.
and the court room was crowded to its
utmost capacity. many women being
among those present. Everyone was
on the qui vive, and all looked alert
and thoroly interested. The women
were given an opportunity to leave the
room before the taking of certain testi-
mOny, but all kept their seats, obtained
at the cost of much difficulty. except
Mrs. Carnegie and the Countess of Var
mouth. who left, but returned later
when assured by thefr brother that
nothing probably would be said to Of
fend them.
On Thursday young Mrs. Thaw took
the stand. and for four hours was lis
tened to almost breathlessly while she
told the terrible, depressing story of
the great wrong done her by the man
of the world, the successful architect,
Stanford White In the same simple
dress she has worn each day, her hair
arranged in extremely youthful FASH
ion. she looked hardly more than
child in the big witness chair, and she
opened her heart and lay bear its pitt
full secret in low, sweet, appealing
tones and in a frank, girlish way that
seemed to carry conviction. 1t was an
appalling. most sensational story. CIV
ing in detail her entire acquaintance
with the architect and Harry Thaw,
covering a period of about seven years.
Nothing was omitted.
Mrs. Evelyn Thaw's Dramatic Story.
She told the whole story You could
have heard a pin drop in the court
room. Not a word she uttered was
lost. Several women wept, few men
quietly wiped their eyes, and the Jury
looked very serious and We're plainly
deeply affected. On Thursday Mrs.
Thaw continued her story. The court
room was more crowded than ever, but
Thaw's two brothers were the only
1nr,n nf n fa ilt- l.;
sisters being conspicuously absent since
his wife began her testimony What
young Mrs. Thaw had to say on Thurs
day was not so dramatic or sensational
as her evidence Of the day before, and
her husband looked plainly relieved,
knowing that the most trying part for
her was over. Jerome Interrupted once
to protest against the unfair bIackenine
Of the character of man who, being
dead, had no opportunity to controvert
the testimony. The court adjourned
till Monday, when Mrs Thaw will fin
ish. This week promises to be a thrill
ingly interesting one to those who like
this sort of excitement. Evelyn Thaw
will be cross examined by Jerome, and
Thaw himself will take the stand. The
real fight will begin. Public opinion
seems to be divided on the question of
the real importance of the young vvife's
testimony. Those who look coidly and
calmly at both sides say. 'she would,
of course. say anything. tell any lie to
save the life of her husband. dominated
as she is too, by so powerful family
as the Thaws. She has had many weeks
in which to prepare her part, and much
instruction. Her story is too perfect,
too symmetrical" If the dramatic re-
cHal of her wrongs was but the con-
summate skill of the actress, it must
be conceded that 1t was an absolutely
faultless bit Of acting. and that she has
far more to her than would be sus-
pected from her almost childish. un-
developed appearance. The great ma
jority, however, believe in her story.
which. 1t is thot, will really acquit
Thaw.
Suggestion to the President.