The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-10
JEROME'S TURN.
District Attorney Makes Power
full Plea for the State
In Closing the Argument of the
ThaW Case.
GREATEST CROWD YET
Demand for Admission to Court
Room Cnprece dented.
Prosecutor Snesrs at "Dementia
Americans" Of Delmas.
WITH TEARS IN EYES
He Pleads for Justice to " hite's
Memory.
Makes MerciIess Attack on
Character of Evelyn ThaW.
Prosecutor Snesrs at "Dementia
Americana" Of Delmas.
WITH TEARS IN EYES
He Pleads for Justice to " hIte's
Memory.
Makes Merciless Attack on
Character of Evelyn ThaW.

New York, April lot was District
Attorney Jerome's turn in the Thaw
case today In summing up the prose-
cution's case against Harry X Thaw.
= Mr.. Jerome discIaimed all intention OF
entering into an oratoricaI contest
with Mr. Delmas. but it is seldom that
an address more powerful. more sub
tie, more logical. has been heard in a
court room.
From cold logic he passed TO biting
sarcasm and then fnvective. with here
and there a touch of pathos- He had
the c7Osest attention of the jurors and
spectators. including the Thaws- His
defense of Stanford White. whose
spirit. he said. seemed to be lowering
in the court room begging TO be heard
before il was blackened forever. was
uttered with irnpressiveness and with
tears in his eyes
Afr Jerome finished at 3:4s D. m Jus
tice Fitzgerald will charge the jury to-
day
New York. April 10.-AIl previous
crowds were insignificant compared to
that which stormed the court room
doors this morning in an effort to hear
District Attorney Jerome sum up the
states case against Harry K. Thaw,
slayer of Stanford White
Court did not convene until 11:30.
and two hours before that time the
arrive and took up positions of vantage
in the corridors leading TO the court
room. 50 as TO be among the first TO be
admitted when the doors were opened
The police however were prepared for
the rush and kept the doors closed un-
til II o'clock But this did not pre-
vent large number OF favored friends
from getting into the court room be-
fore that hour Court attendants en-
plOyed the side doors leading to the
anterooms, to good advantage and so
when the main entrance was opened
the trial room was almost filled. The
small enclosure in front of the judges
bench was also taxed to its utmost
capacity by the friends and assistants
of the district attorney. and altogether
the scene in the court room when Mr.
- Jerome rose TO address the jury was
one of tense interest. expectancy and
suppressed excitement
In the corridors the scenes were
most stirring Scores of disappointed
men and women made an onslaught
upon the police guard in a last effort
TO pass. only 10 be repulsed and fairly
dragged back from the entrance. Men
with imagined influence pleaded with
the officers. cajoled. begged and
threatened. but all in vain.
About five minutes before the ses-
sion was begun members of the Thaw
family began 10 arrive. The first to
by his sister. the Countess of Var
mouth Mrs Carnegie and her hus-
band were next Mrs. Edward Thaw
and Evelyn Thaw followed quickly and
the elder Mrs. Thaw came last. All
locked hopeful and confident
At 11:35 O'Clock Justice Fitzgerald
took his seat upon the bench. the jury
was brought in and Harry K Thaw
was called to the bar.
Jerome Opens for State
Gentlemen of the jury" said Mr.. :
Jerome, arising when the court had op-
ened from all I can judge from the
papers, having been absent-you have
been wandering through a mere field Of
romance for two days The life of a
human being is not TO be judged on
such premises The issues here can not /
be determined by quotations from the /
scriptures. You have been enjoined by I
the court 10 make up your verdict sole 4
ly from the evidence
The attorneys for the defense have
had the responsibility of a human life
resting upon them. but there has been
a responsibility equally grave upon the 4
prosecution
The law is not cruel law It does /
not punish for the mere sake Of pun i
It Furnishes to protect those !
who live under it
Important as it is that no human life 1
should be put out unjustly. it is equal I
~0u and I dwell that the law shall be I
jbtStly upheld.
I. gentlemen. have had no easy task |
If in the heat of the battle / have
trarSC6EQ9Q the courtesy Oue 10 COun- Z
sci. I will beg you to overlook it, II 4
in the judgment of the court I have 4
gone further than I should have gone
in making certain statements in court. /
I have nothing but regret for it. This /
is time for US all to lay aside our /
animosities. The issue here is not to
be determined upon my personality or
upon that of the counsel for the de-
fense-
Keep clearly in mind that while the
defendants counsel stand for the de-
fendant individually. there is another
side the side of the people, of whom
YOU are a part This is no action be-
tween the executors of Stanford White
and this defendant. II is not a trial to I
determine whether Evelyn Nesbit was
rayished by Stanford White. 1t is an
sSue between the people Of New York
state and Harry X ThaW. and il is to
determine whether what he did was
Iustffiable or excusable. or whether
he should be punished for it.
Stands on the Evidence
L will assure you that not on the
words of counsel. but on the evidence
-ou are bCJnd by your oaths TO decide
his issue. On the evidence l will try to
point out to you that this defendants
rhine was not justifiahle or excusable
md that he should be punished