Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-03-14
Jerome Makes a Bitter Attack on
Harry and Evelyn ThaW-
Prove Story Untrue
DELMAs FIGHTS TESTIMONY
Mrs. Thaw Testified that Stanford
White Declared TO Her that Hum
mel Had 'Just Squeezed a Thous-
and' Out of Him-ReaI Battle of
the Trial is Now On and Harry X.
Thaw's Fate is in the Balance.

sion occupied almost entirely by Dis
trict Attorney Jerome in bitter de-
nunciation of the defendant and his
wife the trial of Harry X. Thaw for
the murder of Stanford White was
adjourned abruptly.
The prosecuting attorney found his
opportunity to attack Thaw and the
former actress, Evelyn Nesbit Thaw,
in arguing on the question of the adj
instability of the testimony which
Abraham Hummel, the lawyer who is
under indictment for subornation of
perjury in the Dodge Morse divorce
case. has to Offer
During his argument the district at
torney took on for the first time since
the case began sustained oratorical
tone. He asserted that Hummel would
swear Evelyn Nesbit told him three
days after her return from Europe IN
1908 that Thaw had beaten her cruelty
because she would not sign papers he
had prepared falsely accusing Stan
ford White of having drugged and be
trayed her. Mr.. jerome contended that
she had told much more that Thaw
seemed bent upon putting Stanford
White in the pententiary. that the
statement that White had betrayed
her was not true, that Stanford White
had never harmed her and that Thaw
was consumed with rage when she re-
fused to sign and swear to the papers
containing Lies against Stanford
White"
'These things We're put in the form
of an affidavit" declared Mr.. Jerome,
"and that affidavit was subscribed to
by Evelyn Nesbit when she knew
what she was doing and what the pa
per contained.
1--WE want to show that the girl who
told this remarkable story here on the
witness stand swore at another time
under the solemnity of an oath that
naked-stripped absolutely naked-she
had endured the lashings and beatings
of this defendant rather than swear to
his false statements that Stamford
White had drugged and ruined her."
Mr.. Jerome argued that the material
point of the case is whether or not
Evelyn Nesbit told Thaw the story of
her alleged ruin by Stanford White.
Without that story in evidence, he de-
clared, the reason for the defendants
alleged insanity disappears. The pros
ecutor plainly admitted the Importance
of young Mrs. Thaws testimony, and
he declared he wished by Hummel's
testimony to show her own reputation
of the charges which on the witness
stand she renewed against White.
"rhus," he concluded, ''the jury may
infer from her own statements after
her return from Europe in 1903 wheth-
er or not she had within two months
of that time told this defendant the
things she said she did"
Mr.. Delmas objected to Hummel as
witness on the ground that his testi-
mony had to do with the truth or
falsity of Mrs. Thaw's narration and
was not permissible under the rules Of
evidence which have governed the
trial. Mr.. Jerome's contention was
that while he may not attack the truth
or falsity of Mrs. Thaw's statement
that she was betrayed by White he
can attack the truth of her assertion
that she told the story TO Thaw at the
time she says she did
Mr.. Delmas first sought TO interrupt
HummePs testimony by showing that
he was acting as Evelyn Nesblt's le-
oI o1 l,n
made certain statements TO him. Hum
mel evaded this. however. by saying
he was acting solely as Whites coun-
sci and no legal action had been con-
templated in behalf of Miss Nesbit.
He said he was paid Il yearly retainer
by Stanford White and could not say
exactly what he charged the architect
for drawing up the affidavit Asked If
1t was $1,000, he burst into laughter
and said absolutely it was not. He
finally placed the charge at 800
about
When Evelyn Nesbit Thaw was on
tne witness stand she said Stanford
White came to see her one evening in
1908 and asked her what she had told
Hnmmel about him adding that abe
uummel has Just squeezed $1,000 out
Of me, and the Lord only knows how
soon he will squeeze another
Young Mrs. Thaw's testimony re-
Sarding the affidavit was to the effect
chat Stanford White had taken her to
Hummel's Office after telling her "lots
Of horrid things about Harry and that
she had told Hummel about her trip
through Europe with 'rhaw. She said,
"Mr. Hummel then dictated a lot of
things to man and put in lots about
Harry Thaw which wasn't true at ALL
size denied signing any paper In Hum
nlArs office. but admitted baving sign