The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-01-23
Anthony Conlstock IS a
Witness.
MOTHER OF THAw CALLED
Aged Woman Bares the Family
Skeleton.
Testimony Ne 10 Her Fceble-slanaed
Relatives centrnaicts Her Amda-
Wit at Former Hearins--
Thaw,. Letters Read.

second ThaW trial 10 last NpRh
This was Indicated late today when Dr.
Charles @. Wagner. the frst o. the
alicnists to be called BY the oetenses
took the stand for his preliminary ex-
animation.
ANTHONY comstock. vice-President Of
the Society for the Suppression of
Vice. had been heard as witness ear
lser IN the day and Mrs. William IhaWs
mother OF the defendant, had completed
her testimony. The kindergnrten
teacher who had charge Of Harry Thaw
as q lad OF also testified. and the day
marked long stride toward the con-
cIusion of the celebrated case.
Mr.. Comstocix's Testimony. while new.
had been discounted by thu known
facts Of Thaw's appeal to him % aasist
In closing up the house where stanford
White was alleged to have maintained
deliberately furnished apartments and
where young girls were said 70 have
been mfstreated. A dozen letters ThaW
wrote to Comstock regarding the mat
ter. giving q detailed description OF the
Twenty fourth Street house. were adj
United in evidence and read TO the jury
District Attorney Jerome seemed ~
pleased as the defense with the letters
and later In the day read into the rec
ord himself most OF Mr., comstocks re-.
TRs witness Indicated in HIS testi-
monx that nothing ever came OF tho
Complaints. legal evidence being Lack
ing.
Mrs william Thaw, stisl unable to-
walk unassisted because Of her recent
ilIness was not long upon the stand
She told of Thaw's early life. Of fnnu-
ences before his birth, and Of the Eners
tai unsoundness OF two % her broth
ers.
ahe was not cross-exanined. Mr. Je-
rome contented himself with reading 30
the jurors the afiidavit made ~ tke sid
Or Mrs. Thaw last year when the qnes~
flon Of her sons sanity was before Z
lunacy commission. In that afIiAnvif
she declared that n the direct llne Of
descank there bad been no insanity IN
Harry ThAwsa family for generations.
A. TO the collateral cases. bIrs. Thaw
said in the affidavit there were but twn
ana they we're easily accounted for. IL
her abatement 10 the Commission. Mrs.
Thaw Also resented tie tiieinaasinfse.
which she said she had heen compeliad
TO suffer because OF the newspaper re-
ports. OF insanity in the family, and
she asserted that there were no family
secrets TO hide and there was no skeie-
ton to be barred.
Mr.. Littleton may continue with ex-
pert testimony tomorrow. or he may
offer as witnesses the doctors from
Rome. Paris ana London. who are 10
testify briefly Of attending Thaw in
those cities. Another doctor is expect
ed TO testify shout an outbreak on 4
train. and that will end all save the
expert testimony.
CedIcii 10 Thavv.s WIN.
Today the codicil to Thaw'e Will was
placed in evidence, but the win itself
was temporarily ruled out because Of
the lusufficteucy OF evidence nnoxvinr
Its custody since 1905. Mr.. LitkIotnn
said that be would supply this tenor
row or Friday.
1t was 1910 o'clock when the krtal.
was resumed today ana Mr.. Lfetlassss
began at once the preiigninarise 81
proving Harry Thaw's will ana oosFfcsl
exeeated the day OF his Wedding II,
Evelyn Nesbit In Pittsburg. hfiaa
Francis Fierce. who Witnessed fha alx4
nature ana who testified At the laak
trial was called 20 the stand.
Miss Pierce Identified the papar buk
MT. Jerome objected to admitting ina
VIII IN evidence until witness had cosn~
forward to prove its custody from n, 4
time OF the signing to the present me-
ment. Mr. Littleton temporarily WITH
drew the offer OF the viii.
As to the codicil, Mr.. yarny,a
tected to it's introduction on the ~rn,s,s.s
tnat II was the DEFENDANTS own fass1-
writing and was & self.servfne Scr,,z
men1 Justice Bowling, howevar rnfs
the codictl was competent as svf1nn~e
Mr. Littleton then read the cotIfelI =,
the jury Tho codieiI, II viii be re-
mempered. provides a number OF be-
quests to lawyers and others 10 afa
alleged victims OF Stanford white ~
prosecute. claims for damages nrainek
him. and for the prosecution Of All
others engaged tin such uniawye,sf
practices as said stanford whife.s
Following the reading OF the coEiegI.
Mr.. Littleton created somethinw * 8
stir by calling Anthony Comstook 10
the stand, his first appearances IN the
case.
Anthony COmmtoek Tcstsaea.
Mr.. Comstock said that Thaw called
at his once In February 1904 and coma
planned Of q party who WAS wronginn
Young girls. Thaw went into details
which the witness repeated as far as he
could remember. Mr.. Comstock also
said he had received letters from
Thaw.
The witness Identified several com
munications from Thaw. one OF the pa
pers being a diagram of the premises
where he declared evil men were carry
ing on criminal practices. Thaw de-
clared that workmen on buildings near
these premises had heard young girls
scream and suggested that men be sent
to watch the entrances to the place
with the Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty to Children. suggesting that d
search warrant be issued and an inves-
tiRatlon be made OF the house which
was located in Twenty second Street
"rhaw told me he had been followed
to my ONCE the second 9ime by men
who were employed to watch him.
continued the witness. Il sent several
men out in the hallway 10 sec Il any
one was there"
Mr.. Jerome objected to the, witness
telling the result Of this search, but
1t came out In the discussion that none
had followed Thaw.
When Thaw came back to see me
the third time" resumed Mr.. Cornstock.
II told him / had been unable 70 ae-
cure any evidence. as the house IN
Twentytsecond Street seemed 70 be
closed. He said he would fur ish me
the names Of several girls %ho had
been there. ! told him It would be ne
-. Naa--.