Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-02-10
JEROME IS FACING
DIFFICULT PROBLEM
District ATTORNEY Will Cross
Examine Mrs. Thaw.
OF STORY NOT AN ISSUE
The Point In the Case Is Not as to
tie Truth of Mrs. ThaW's Stories,
but as to Their Effect on Thaws
Mind.


but as to Their Effect on Thaws
Mind.
New York, Feb. 9.-The nature
of District Attorney Jerome's cross
examination of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw,
who has already spent two days on
the witness stand in the defense OF
her husband, was jhe principal sub
ject OF discussion Saturday. Mrs.
Thaw's direct examination has con-
tinued almost without interruption
for two days and there is no sign OF
the climax, the moment when the at
torneys for the defense will turn her
over to the tender mercies OF the Dis
trict Attorney for ss-examination.
The district attorney has diff
cult problem to face in this cross
examination. With the truth or fall
sity Of stories the witness has testi-
fled, she told her husband he has
nothing to do The statement that
size old him these things, Mr.. Je-
ro1ne cannot possibly disprove. His
strongest chance in cross eXamina-
tion is to make her stumble in the
story as she has told it with the gen
tie guidance f her husbands attor~
neys, or admi; elIing him other things
about her past life which would tend
to minimize in his mind the effect
of tne story of her relations with
Stanford White. He can introduce
evidence, if he has it. generally af-
fecting her credibility as a witness,
but as for the many statement in her
testimony-the stories which made her
recital perhaps the most striking ever
heard in court in this ci,y-StanfOrd
White himself If he were alive, could
not go on the witness stand and deny
them. The point in the case is
not, as 20 the truth Of these stories,
but as to their effect on Thaw's mind
This fact was impressed on the jury
Friday when he court, at the request
of the District Attorney informed the
jury that under the law the prosecu-
ton could not introduce evidence with
the object Of disproving any slate
ment that she. told her husband all
the things she has testified to, That
Mr.. Jerome will strenuously object
to the further introduction of what he
termed 'tattlings of the Tenderloin'
was plainly shown Friday, when he
claimed and was sustained by the
court, but as yet there has been no
evidence to show that Thaw is now
or ever was insane, and hat until
this was shown any more of these
stories would be entirely immaterial
This ruling may bear any other stories
that Evelyn Thaw may have had to
tell In such time as it has been shown
that there is a reasonable doub, as to
the proper balance of Thaw's mind
at the time Of the shooting.
If this is done, then the flood gates
are likely to open for the admission
of almost anything that Thaw may
have told his wife or she told him
or that he heard in any other way
that to any extent might have con-
tributed to the unbalancing of his
mind Several attempts were made
sound mind, but the district attor-
ney was successful in blocking them
for the time being Thaw's attor~
ney stated Friday night that Mrs
Thaw would again assume the stand
Monday morning on direct examina-
| ton, but to what she would testify
they were not prepared to state.
Mrs, Thaw appeared Friday in the
same costume she wore the day be-
fore. Her testimony was not so in
teresting or so convincing, for she
| was as direct in her manner of speak
| ing and more dramatic in her deliv-
cry. any observed that she die
not make as favorable an impression
as she did during the fire day on the
stand.
ut is expected that r. Delmas
| of counsel for Thaw, will make {
vigorous effort on Monday to intro
| duce Thaw's will in evidence.
| Is said to be remarkable dOcumen
and is believed to be strongly relieC
on by Mr. Delmas to show the effec
on Thaw of the stories related to hin
| by Evelyn Nesbit 1t is said to hav,
been written on loose sheets of pa
| per, partly typewriter and partly il
handwriting, with many interlinea
| tions.
According to a report Saturday, tn
will is expected to show that Thay
feared assassination and 1t is sal
that in it he ordered the sum of $50,
900 be devoted to the prosecution o
his assassin, or the investigation 0
his anticipated assassination.
Other provisions is one setting asid
a fund of SIS, 900 for the care of wo
men VINO he believed to have suffer
ed through Stanford White TIL
names of the women whom Thaw be
Heved to have suffered are reporte
| to be given in the will. 1t is ais
| reported that the will contains pro
vision for the education of Howar
Nesbit, Mrs. Thaw's brother, an
that an allowance was made for tn
care of Evelyn's mother for life. TIL
income for the remainder of the es
hate was bequeathed to Mrs. Evely
|