The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-01-23
TOO BAD FOR PUBLIC
JEROME WARTS EVELYN THAW'S
STORY TOLD IN PRIVATE.
DEFENSE VERY WILLING
Young Wife Begins Testimony, But
Prosecutor Tears II to Pieces
Prisoners Mother Takes
Witness Stand.

New York.-A series of surprises
brought the Thaw trial near a crisis
Friday. Both Evelyn Thaw, the wife,
and Mrs. William Tbaw, 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 Thaw in Paris
in 1903, District Attorney Jerome
arose and suggested that in the inter
est of public morals all persons save
those Immediately interested in the
case should be excluded from the
courtroom during the recital of what
he termed "a horrible tale" The de-
fense agreed and Justice Bowling ad
journed court until Monday morning,
when, he said, he would decide the
matter.
Suggestion Is Surprise.
The district attorneys suggestion
was distinct surprise and called
forth the remark from Justice Dow
ling that it would have come with
greater force at the first hearing of
the case When Mr. Jerome arose it
was generally believed that he was
about to contend against the admis.
sibility of young Mrs Thaws testi
moDy On the ground that it could not
have had very serious effect upon
the mind Of the man who subse-
quently became her husband, mas
much as the homicide did not occur
until three years thereafter.
Mr.. Jerome had previously objected
to Mrs. Thaw detailing conversations
she had with Thaw three years prior
to the tragedy, but Justice Bowling
ruled that the declarations of the de-
fendant were admissible on general
principles and without any reference
to the Wood case, under which the
evidence in dispute was admitted last
year, and which Mr.. Jerome had been
expected to ask construction of this
year.
Il will not except to your honors
ruling" said the district attorney as
he took his seat after his objection,
for the state has no power of ap-
peal"
Tears EVeIyn's Story to Pieces.
Then Mr. Jerome attacked the wit
ness in another way and, by standing
Immediately in front of her and oh.
Jcctng to practically every question
which Mr.. Littleton asked in his pre-
history, cut the young Toman'S re-
cital from the effective narrative form
it assumed last year into hundred
fragments. Many of the objections,
alfty, were sustained by the court
When these failed the prosecutor
was ever ready with others until the
testimony fairly was torn into shreds
and had lost entirely the many little
touches of human interest which were
Il part of the narration last year when
no objections were offered Mr.. Jer-
ONE said his objections we're intended
to cut out all stories about pet cats
and lot of other stuff which had
HO UldCS Ill the llldi.
Elder Mrs. Thaw Testifies.
The day, however. was one of good
progress for the defense The elder
Mrs. Thaw, pale and weak from her
recent illness, was assisted to the
witness chair and repeated large
part of the testimony she gave a
year ago. Her appearance and the
sincerity of her evidence as she told
of her sons strange conduct after
meeting Evelyn Nesbit and hearing
her story had marked effect upon all
who listened. On account of her weak
condition her examination was inter-
rupted by consent, to be resumed
some time next week, when she will
tell of Thaw's infancy.
District Attorney Jerome's manner
while the mother was on the stand
was all Difference, and it was his sug.
gestion which led to the respite in her
ordeal. But when the young wife
took the stand the change was
marked. Jerome glared at her from
the very first and his objections were
fairly shouted in her ears. Well ac-
customed to court usage from her
former experience. the young woman
waited patiently for ruling as to
each objection. When they were sus.
tanned she was silent; when over.
ruled she was ever read with her re.
sponse.