The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-07
Mrs. William Thaw Testifiss In
Behalf of Her Son.
Tells of His Strange Actions at
Their Home.
WHITE ON HIS MIND.
Talk Was Ever of a Wicked Man
I'm New York.
Tells of His Weeping While
Sitting by Her in Church.

New York. March Continuing
her testimony at the trial of her son,
wednesday afternoon, Mrs. William
T-dw said:
Harry told me he could not sleep
and there was no use going to bed
am not of a pTying disposition. out
asked him to tell me what the matter
was He said it was Impossible 10
tell me his story
..Did he at any time in answer to
your questions. freely tell you the
story p said Mr. Delmas.
He told me freely one night when
I insisted on it
Mr.. Jerome objected to the repeti-
ton of the story unless Mr. Delmas
stated that the time at which it was
told was covered by the testimony OF
the alienists as period when Thaw
was insane
Then Jerome withdrew his objec-
ton and allowed the witness 10 give
the purport of the conversation.
He told me the story" said Mrs
Thaw. but not definitely. He said his
troubles were caused by something
wicked man had done in New York,
probably the wickedest man in New
York He said it had ruined his life
and he never could be happy That
was all 1 could get from him for
week.
Mrs. Thaw as she told of her sons
condition, almost broke down Her
lips quivered and she covered her
mouth with a handkerchief. But her
emotion did not last long and the
white haired woman. with an appar-
ent effort. controlled herself. when
she could again speak she said:
Harry seemed absorbed, as if he
was working with great problem
He was very fond of music and often
he would leave the table and go into
the parlor. Then 1 would hear loud
music on the piano. which would
gradually grow softer and softer. And
then he would come back to the table
as if nothing had happened. He did
this often even when there was COM
pany at the table and he was engaged
in the conversation.
THE week before Thanksgiving I
understood more I did not know the
girls name, did not ask it, I did not
want to know it, but l did know that
his condition had something to do
with a young girl. He told me about
the wicked man in New York but it
was only later. I found out that this
man had wronged a young girl. After
I found his condition was due to
SO mething which had been done to a
young girl. 1 asked him why he should
allow his life to be ruined. I told him
1t was not his duty to look after the
girl and tried TO influence him in an
other direction. but he protested that
his life had been ruined. He told me
the girl had the most beautiful mind
naturally of any person he ever knew
He told me this about Thanksgiving
time and it caused me to look at mat
tiers in a new light
Harry said the girl had been neg
lected by her mother. or that she had
no mother or this thing would not
have happened. He said there was
still a chance for her to be good and
so on 1 can't recall all that he said
Ion Thanksgiving day Harry and I
were alone-the rest of the family
were all away"
Here Mrs Thaw's voice again failed.
Her face flushed and her eyes filed
with tears.
Justice Fitzgerald asked if she could
proceed She nodded, but remained
silent.
To relieve the tense situation Justice
Fitzgerald ordered that all of Mrs
Thaw's testimony up to this time be
read to the jury by the stenographer.
Mrs. Thaw's voice had been so low.
her words could not be heard dis
tinctly even by the jury. TT was the
first Thanksgiving in our large and
beautiful new church." said Mrs.
Thaw when she was able to resume.
Harry and 1 went to church and it
was SO crowded we had to sit we'll
back under the gallery When the