The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-18
The organization starts out with
a aattering membership and with
every indication Of becoming a
success
BELIEVED HIM IRRATIONAL
Number of Witnesses Tell Of Harry
ThaW's Actions.

uudW . NSStVtSs
New York, jan 18.-The defense at
the Thaw trial continued to build up
Its ever Tightening net of irrationality
around the man accused of the muir
der Of Stanford White. Two impor-
tant witnesses at the morning ses-
sion were Miss Alice G. Fletcher OF
the archaeological bureau of the
Smithsonian institution at Washing
ton, long time friend of the Thaws
and a frequent visitor at Their home,
and Miss Catherine O'Neill, who
nursed Thaw during six years of his
childhood. They both declared he
was an irrational youth and detailed
the many incidents in his life which
had led them to the conclusion.
Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw unexpect-
eddy was called to the stand just be-
fore noon, but was withdrawn mo-
ment later to make way for other
witnesses. 49,
Miss Alice G. Fletcher of Washing
ton, D. c.. who said she had been a
frequent visitor at the Thaw house
hold in Pittsburg and had known
Harry X. Thaw for twenty-six years,
was the first witness. She said Thaw
was an unusual child-nervous and
{ moody, with wild and staring eyes.
He seldom talked coherent1y and was
unable to carry on sustained con-
versation. !. .-.-
Catherine O'Neill, an elderly wo-
man, who was nurse in the Thaw
family for six years and took charge
of Harry K. !ThaW when he was be-
tween three and four years old, testi-
fed as to the childhood of the de-
PENDANT. She described him as very
| nervous and moody. He would have
nervous outbreaks which would end
in complete collapse. His mouth
would tWitch and there were many
facial ocontortions. :, .-:.:,.~>
The nervous outbreaks occurred
during all of the. years the nurse was
in the employ of the family, causing
her to reach the conclusion that
Harry's mind was affected.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw Called.
Mr.. Littleton here caused a ripple
of excitement by calling Evelyn Mes
bit Thaw to- the. stand. Young Mrs.
Thaw, in her blue schoolgirl dress,
appeared promptly and walked brisk
ly to the witness chair, where Clerk
Penny administered the usual oath.
While Mrs. Thaw was sitting with
an anxious face ready for her exam
nation Mr.. I4ittleton changed tactics
and asked her to withdraw for the
time being to make way for Policeman
Thomas F.. Lynch who was doorman
at the Tenderloin police station at the
! time Thaw was confined there follow
ing the shooting of Stanford White
Lynch repeated the testimony he
gave at the first. trial as to Thaw com.
planning the morning after his arrest
of hearing the voices of children, ten
or twelve yearsod age in the tier of
cells above his :oBn. The officer said
| to Thaw: "YolIrmust. be dopey; I
don't hear anything :. -
| Doorman Barrett, who was on duty
at the station when Thaw first was
Brought there, followed Lynch and
added his opinion, to that of his
brother officer that Thaw acted like
an irrational man. Barrett declared,
on cross exanlination, that Thaw,
when arraigned at the-sergeant's desk
/ in the police station, appeared like a
man who had been stabbed or shot
himself - -
Ellis eyes were something terrible"
exclaimed the witness; they stuck
O1,t Hike two hard hni1ed aoos "
The officer and; the district attorney
renewed the battle they had at the
last trial and the cross-questioning
was continued at great length. Thaw,
the doorman declared, complained
during the night that some one was
heating and abusing little girls in the