Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-05

afternoon that Thaw's insanity began to
be apparent some three or four years ago.
He met Evelyn Nesbit in 1901, so it is to
be inferred that his mental disorders had
their beginning subsequent to the meeting
of the two young people and the attachment
Thaw formed for the girl. In this way the
defense hopes to build up the theory that
Thaw lost his mental poise through worry
over the wrongs he felt his wife had suf-
fered at the hands of another. The at
tempt will be made to prove that Thaw's
insanity was due to heredity as well to
stress.
Mrs. william Thaw and Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw both are expected to be early wit
nesses. 1t has been reported several times
from Pittsburg that the elder Mrs. Thaw
has been urged by persons Of influence not
to allow the plea of hereditary insanity to
be entered in behalf of her son. The sacri-
fee of the social leaders pride to the
mothers love is illustrated by the fact that
not only did she consent to the plea of in
sanity through heredity, but will actually
take the stand to offer whatever testimony
is within her power to help make this de-
Tense insanity effective.
The Woman is Worried.
Evelyn Thaw has been growing paler day
by day as the time approaches for her to
take the witness stand. She will be at the
mercy of a determined prosecutor who
realizes the effect the story she will tell the
jury may have, and who will leave nothing
undone to upset 1t. Young Mrs. Thaws
life will be an open book to District
Attorney Jerome when he takes her in hand
and begins to ply her with questions. His
detectives have traced her life from early
girlhood. She is now but twenty-three
years of age, but has lived the life of thrice
those years.
What young Mrs. Thaw has to tell the
world when she takes the witness chair
she has told to no one but her husband
and his lawyers.
The promised interest of today's proceed
ings resulted in great pressure being
brought to bear on the court officers for the
privilege of entering the court room, but
Justice Fitzgerald, who is presiding at the
trial. has determined to adhere to his rule
of excluding the public.
Thaw Misses Wife.
Experts on insanity and handwriting
witnesses and jurors came to the Thaw
trial today muf1led to the eyes in great
coats and furs. A severe. snow storm,
which began early last night, continued
today with undated fury
The order for the exclusion Of all wit
nesses, which on yesterday drove Mrs.
Harry Thaw and Mrs. William Thaw from
the court room, remained in force today,
with the result that the second row of
four chairs just back Of the prisoners,
which heretofore have been reserved for
his family, had been turned over to those
whose business gave them the privilege Of
attending the trial.
Josiah Thaw was the only member Of
the defendants family in court as the
morning session began.
Harry Thaw on entering seemed to
miss the smile of welcome which each
morning in the past his wife had be-
slowed upon him.
DIR. Wiley First Witness.
District Attorney Jerome was late in
reaching court owing to the storm, and
the opening of the session was delayed
ten minutes.
DR.. c. c. Wiley of Pittsburg, the
Thaws' family physician, and who is con-
was called as the first witness for the de-
fense DR.. Wiley. in response to a ques-
ton by John B. Gleason of Thaw's coun-
sci, said he devoted much of his life to
study of insanity, and that he had served
as an expert in a large number Of cases.
Quarreled With Conductor.
DIR. Wiley was asked to state his recol-
lection of an incident in 1905 In which Har-
ry X. Thaw was concerned.
I'm the summer of 1906" said the witness,
Il was passenger on a street car of the
9Th avenue line in Pittsburg when Harry
in
son Thaw rushed for one Of the blinds to a
window. drew up the blind, slammed it
down again and then drew it up once more.
He had quarrel with the conductor
What was Thaw's manner"
1T was defiant, vague, and his eyes flash
ed from right to left in this way
DIR. Wiley illustrated with his eyes.
AS an expert and from your personal OBJ
servation can you say whether his actions
were rational or irrational?"
IRRATIONAL
Mr.. Gleason here formed hypothetical
question in which he outlined Thaw's act
of killing Stanford White on the Madison
Square Roof Garden and coupled with 1t
the Interrogation as to whether the witness
could express an opinion of such an act
committed by the person he saw in the
Pittsburg street car.
The hypothetical question in full was as
follows:
Assuming, sir, that the man that you
saw in the street car last summer was
proved to you. as an expert to have at
tended a roof garden on the 18th day of
June, 1906, on the occasion of the opening
of theatrical entertainment which was
largely attended, and that on walking out
from the theater, with his wife near by him,
and apparently in a quiet and orderly
manner, that man should turn aside
and fire three shots from a revolver into
a man who was sitting at the table and
to whom he did not speak; that this man
then held the pistol above his head and
walked quietly to the elevator; that he
gave up the pistol without resistance and
did not make any attempt to escape, and
that he said: He ruined my wife, and that
Immediately thereafter he said to his wife:
Il have probably saved your life; 1 ask
you, sir. upon your judgment as as ex-
pert, whether you are able to give an opin-
ion touching upon the sanity of the man
who made that answer?'
II can" said DR.. Wiley.
"Win you express that opinion?'
Il believe that that man"
District Attorney Jerome objected