Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-09
TRIAL NEARLY AT AN END
Thaw Case to Be Given to the Jury
Next Week.
MOTHER ON WITNESS STAND
corroborates Testimony Concerning
Sons Mental condition--Pathetic
Story Made Strong Impression.

Story MADE strong impFcss'oH-
New York, March Indications
point to an early conclusion OF the
trial of Harry Thaw in the criminal
court here, and it is predicted that the
case will be given to the jury by the
middle of next week. The defense an
nounces that but two more witnesses
win be summoned, and as their tesu-
mony will begin Friday morning at the
opening of court, it is believed that
the defense will rest not later than
Monday. District Attorney Jerome
will doubtless subject these witnesses
to a lengthy cross-examination, and
this will be followed by the arguments
for the state and defense, which will
likely consume one day.
The lawyers for the defense today
stated that the testimony of Mrs.
Thaw, mother of the prisoner was
strongly cowoborative of DR.. Evans
statements that young Thaw's mental
condition was caused by worry and
depression over the wrongs of his wife
at the hands of Stanford White.
The Mothers Story
Another dramatic chapter has been
added to the history of the trial of
Harry K Thaw for the murder of
Stanford White, by the mother of the
defendant taking the witness stand TO
contribute what she might toward saw
ing her son from the death danger
which menaces him.
Mrs. Thaw's stay before the jury
was brief. When Mr. Delmas had deft-
" limited her examination to the
change she had noted in her sons
condition following his return from
Paris in 1908, after Evelyn Nesbit had
told him the story of her life, and
when District Attorney Jerome had,
with great consideration, conducted
short and Intellectual cross-examina-
ton, the mother love swelled strong in
Mrs. Thaw and she felt that she had
done her all She was loath to leave
the witness chair
There is the question of heredity,"
she protested when both Mr. Delmas
and Mr.. Jerome told her that she
might step down.
II have asked you, madam, all that
is considered necessary" said Thaw's
attorney with the utmost Difference.
Breaks Down Twice.
Mrs. Thaw half rose, hesitated and
was about to sit down again when
the leading counsel for the defense Of
fered his hand 70 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 unable
to proceed Her face flushed and she
made an effort to speak, but the words
would not come After few moments
Justice Fitzgerald asked her if she felt
able to proceed and she nodded in the
affirmative She declined glass of
water. made an effort once more to
proceed, but failed.
Justice Fitzgerald then interposed a
relief for which the elderly woman
facing him must have been deeply
witness remarks had been uttered IN a
very low voice, it would be necessary
for the stenographer to read all her
testimony up to that time to the jury.
When the reading was concluded
Mrs Thaw had regained her compos-
ure and was able to proceed to the end
of the narrative.
Tells of Change in Son.
She said, that when Harry came
home in 1903, he seemed depressed
and apparently had lost all interest in
life. II passed sleepless nights. would
often leave the table at meals to go
\ into the parIor to play on the piano
; the music growing softer and softer
until ii finally died away, She told in
a motherly way of her solicitude for
the boy.
He told me wicked man-probab-
ly the wickedest in all New York-had
ruined his life" she said.
1t was not until some time after he
had offered his explanation of the
change in him she learned the story OF
the young woman who was to become
her daughterin-law. Mrs. Thaw told
Of her son breaking down at church in