Omaha daily bee., 1908-01-22
THAw DEFENSE NEARs END
Defendants wife Finishes story and
Letters Are Placed I'm
Evidence.

NEW YORK. Jan. I.-District Attorney
Jeromes long and severe cross-examina-
tlon Of Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw at the
trial of her husband came to an end late
today. The attorneys for the defense then
succeeded in placing in evidence letter
written by the defendant IN the fall Of 1905.
which completely oorroborsted the claim
that the girl who was to become his wife
did tell him the story OF her relations with
Stanford white. much as she has related
it upon the stand at this and the former
trial.
This letter was one of dozen which were
read to the jury as tending to corroborate
young Mrs. Thaw's testimony and as fur
ther tending to show the effect her story.
had upon the defendants mind Most Of
these letters were read to the jury in the
former trial and were considered as one OF
the strongest bits of evidence In the hands
OF the defense. Mr.. Jerome objected to
their introduction into the record today.
but was overruled by Justice Dowling after
Thaw himself had made waiver Of the
confidential relation of counsel and client
when Frederick w Longfellow. his former
attorney. appeared on the stand to identity
the letters.
Some of the writings were addressed to
Mr.. Dongfellow and others had been sent
to him 10 be delivered TO Miss Nesbit. They
all contained many references TO the girls
history and to her experience. and in the
letters intended for the young woman Thaw
constantly bespoke his love and respect for
her Many of the sentences rambled on
incoherently and there were many
scratches, erasures and interlneRtions.
The first letter Mr.. Lttleon read today
was a repetition largely in the defendant $
nuyn NJ ha he III n
says she told him in Paris in 1903. In it,
however Thaw refers to two ..drugged
champagne" incidents-one at the photo
graphic studio in Twenty street and
the other in the Twenty-fourth street
house. whereas Mrs. Thaw twice testified
that while luncheon and wine we're served
during her posing at--the Photographic
place. nothing out OF the ordinary occurred.
| Thaw's letters corroborated Mrs hTaw
! in that he declared It was in the Twenty
fourth street house that she and Stanford
White first were alone.
Mr.. Jerome was muh quieter in his hand
ling of young Mrs. Thaw onthe stand today
and his voice lacked that high. hard pitch
which filled the court room yesterday aft
ernoon. The cross-examination resolved it.
self for a time into a verbal battle between
prosecutor and witness and there were sew
ersl lively Tits which ended only when
Jusice Dowling supervened.
The defense is nearing its close. Tomor-
/ rom morning Thaws will and the codicil
made at the time of his marriage to Evelin
/ Nesbit, both OF which weer introduced last
| year, as further evidence OF irrstionalfty
| on the part OF the defendant will be proved
and introduced as evidence. Then will
| follow the testimony of Miss Belle More
house Lawrence OF California. who was
Thaws teacher when he was 6 years old
and could not talk intelligently. it Is said
Miss Lawrence kept dairy in which there
are many entries concerning young Thaw
and an effort win be made TO get this IN
evidence Mrs William Thaw Is expected
durinE The day 70 complete her testimony
The insanity experts, should be reached
not later than Thursday afternoon and
the defense hopes to close it's case by Fri.
day night. A week later Thsw's fate should
be in the hands of the jury.