The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-18
PUBLIC MAY
 BE EXCLUDED Series of Surprises in
 Thaw Trial. TO SHIELD YOUNG WIFE Story of Her Shame Will Be Tod Again. Mrs. william Thaw. Mother of the De- fendans, Though Weak. apd PaIe,.
 went on the stand s Yesterday.
 
TO SHIELD YOUNG WIFE

prises brought the Thaw trial near A crisis today. Both Evelyn Thaw. the wife and Mrs. William Thaw, the mother Of the defendant, were on the witness stand. and just as the former was about to relate anew the story of her life, as she told it to 1haw in Paris in 1903. District Attorney Jerome arose and suggested that In the interest or public morals all persons save those immediately interested in the case should be excluded from the court room during the recital of what he termed "a horrible tale"
 Tie motion included the represents tives of newspapers as we'll as the pup lie generally. Attorney Martin W. Lit- fieton, of the defense, joined in 1t fo shield the young woman from hundreds of curious eyes. and said that so Tar as the constitutional right to an open hearing was concerned he was ready to waive that point in any fron-ciad manner the court might suggest Pro- ceedings were suspended until Monday. when Justice Bowling. who is presid- ing. will announce his decision
 The District Attorneys suggestion was a distinct surprise and called forth the remark from Justice Bowling that it would have come with greater rorce Al inc first hearing of the case. When MT. Jerome arose 1t was generally oe- iieved that he was about to contSnu . arainst the admissibility or Evelyn Tbawsa testimony on the ground that it conId not have had any serious ef- feet on the mind of the man who SUD- neauentIy became her husband, mas much as the homicide did not occur uh. III three years thereafter
 Jerome Cverruled.
 Mir Jerome had previously opgecteo ta Nrrs Tshaw detailing conversations she had with Thaw three years pnior to the trdagcdy. but Justice DeWilnk ruled that the ,declaTations. o.,l ol s sns .e,- rraI nrincffles and without any refeF- ~.,ra fo fine Wood case, under whlen the assfaence in dispute was admitted last vear. and which Mir Jerome haa nSSn sa expected to ask a ccnstrncLien "l ''''s sesI CT w,il not except to your honcr's z,.,sn," .aid the District Attorney As sa toclx hls seat after his oo1ection afor inc state has no power or Ap- peal" s S,,.a thA wit .s+ in another way and by stanainS ,.s,s,, .SsateIv in front of her and oplecl- i..sr to nracfically, every question WhlSn Mr T,ittleton asked in his prelinal.nars pn,l...,s sxaunination as to ner eS rsc,,si. from tna atssctive narrative form It aesumea tNe ,. ,asr into a hundred fraemsntH Msnv of the objections based upon sns ,s-aIsyancv and tmmateriality Were sus- sssss sained by the court: when sr rssdy ..s with sa, . rntiI the testimony fairly Mas otnels shrads and had lost enIireIS solH asny little touches of human ln- tArAst which were q part or na.Ioas sne ration last year when n0 asS his ob- sa.S offered. MT. Jerome salu nl . ",1 - Mets vSre intended to cut out as gss. ,.ha,,t net cats and iot os r s.oIs .tnff" which had no place III 'ne trial. ..,.r was one of good arrsss for the defense. TnS siSo. so. .- nale and weak from ner IF At tiineas was assisted to the WIZ es eens haSr ana repeated large paEI '. ths testimony she gave year e- sv- sn1ssrance and the sincerity or nss idence as she told of neT ryelyn Sor Nesbit .A haaring her story. had ma @ esa.t nnoI all who listened. Oh @e
 ..Yt oS her weak condition, her exam snstion was interrupted by consenL eo be resumed some time ne&e m.S~
 she will tell of Thaw's inianey'
 Kind to Mrs. Thaw.
 ,,,..-,c. Attorney Jerome's manner !is .t reother was on the stand. was Vii SaSerance. and 1t was hls suBses- s.A -1hich led to the respite m ner orSaaI But when the young WIG touA ths etand. the change was marheo' So rome giared at her from tne veEy nts ,,tsS and his objections were fairly shouLoo in har ears, We'll accustomed to court naara from her former experience. the -o,,Te, vvonaan waited patiently TOT rulinT as to each objection. Whsh they were sustained she was sIisns, naa,, when overruled sne was WI with her response. ..,,,.r at the Effective testimony was given at tiIe ts morninx session by Miss Alice V Fletcher of Washington. D. o. long, time friend of Thaw's and irequehs viaitor at their home. She said sne had knovvn Harry Thaw for twenty -slx years and he had always impresseo hel as irrational ..a Miss Catherine oNeill. who nursed Thaw as a boy. from his third to his tenth year. added her evidence 70 n.. sns' already adduced as to irrational con duet and tendencies on the part or the defendant.
 Two door men at the police station where FThaw was confined the night ol inc tragedy, repeated their stories of last wear of Thaw's irrational appear ance and his complaining of noises that did not exist.
 weeks more,
 Miss Fletcher Testiaes.
 Miss Alice c. Fletcher of Washing ton. ID. C., who said she had been a Srsouent visitor at the rhaw household ir Pittsburg and had known Harry K Thaw for twenty-six years, was the first witness today. She declared that Thaw was unusually nervoas and moody, with staring eyes. He s4ldon talked coherently and was unable tc orrv m a sustained conversation.
 Throughout the period you knew Hsrrv Thaw did his acts and appear ance imnress you as rationsl or ira tional?" asked MT. Littleton.
 "Irrational." declared the witness.
 Miss Fletoher told of seeing Thaw al his mothers home in 1908. Thaw saiC he had had an awful experience; tha he believed he had a terrible disease O the eyes and thought hGwas going tt die--in fact. he wanted to die- H' mentioned Evelyn Nesbits name ire nuAnffv hut hfs talk usually was to,