The Washington herald., 1908-01-23

New York, Jan. 29,-Mrs Mary Copley
Thaw, the mother of Harry X. Thaw,
went on the stand again to-day and told
what she knew of insanity in the Thaw
family, and of the actions of her son
from the time of the birth. She was
feeble and had TO be assisted TO the Wit
ness stand by nurse.
She said that thirteen months before
Harry was born she sustained a great
shock when she found an older child dead
in bed. She was not in good health be
fore Harry's birth, and he was an eX-
cItable and nervous child, She told Of
him having st Vitus' dance
Az TO the insanity faint ia the family.
she said that Henry Copley, an uncle of
Thaw's. had been weak-miuded from the
time he was six years old. Another rela-
tive Josiah Thaw, had brain fever, and
her sister, a Mrs. Hirsch, had been an
epileptc from her early days.
There was no cross-examination of Mrs.
TEaw by the district attorney. BY an
agreement with the counsel for Thaw all
he did was TO read to the jury an aft
davit made by Mrs Thaw ana presented
to the commission in Iunacy az the last
trial In that affidavit she tried to eX-
plain away any faint of hereditary in
sanity in the Thaw family. The affidavit
did not ilbe with the testimony she gave
to-day.
Teacher Is Called.
After Mrs, Thaw, the defense intro
duced Belle Nloorehouse Lawrence, of
California, who was Thaw's teacher when
he was six years old. She said that
Thaw was gloomy and delicate He
wouldn't play with the other boys, ana
ne was nervous and excitable. When
she told MIR. jerome that she had never
spanked him for his "tantrums," Mr.
Jerome said That's ALL" ending her
Cross-examination.
one Of the experts, Dr. Charles G. Wag-
ner. was brought up TO the firing line.
He was asked only a few questions. One
other expert, DIT Britton D. Evans, will
be called by the defense. unless Mr. Je-
rome has a string of them 1t is the be
lief that if Mr.. Jerome's examination of
the experts is not long. the defense will
close its case this week II is understood
that Mr.. Jerome does not intend TO quiz
the aIienists. as he did at the last trial.
\ new witness called by the defense
was Anthony Comstock, who has been
in the vice-huuting game for over thirty
years. He produced a number of letters
written TO him by Thaw between 1904
and 1906. That was after Thaw had
picked him Oul as a good man to put
on the trail of Stanford White In the
letters Thaw makes serious accusations
against White and some OF his friends
No attempt was made to keep the names
from the public. and they were read 10
the jury.
Comstock had several interviews with
THaw, concerning the best way of get
ting evidence against White. Thaw sug-
gested ways of doing it, and said he
would provide the names of witnesses.
He even established what he called
secret service fund" and put up S400.
This was credited to Ferguson" d name
adopted 10y Thaw in carrying on his ne
gotiations with Comstock, although the
vice hunter knew with whom he was
dealing, and sent several letters to Tnaw.
Letters from ComStOck.
At the request of Thaw, Comstock
wrote TO the district attorney and to
the Gerry Society. He had detectives
posted at Madison Square Garden and
the studios in Twenty fourth and Twenty
second streets, but his agents could get
no evidence against White or his friends
Apparently, the Gerry Society and the
district attorney took no action.
District Attorney Jerome did not make
any fight against the Thaw letters to
Comstock being introduced in evidence.
in fact. he brought out letters which
Comstock wrote to Thaw, as a result of
his communications TO him. Il appeared
that Mr.. Jerome viewed all OF Thaw's
dealings with Comstock as those Of a
sane man, and chat Comstock, having
accepted money for the work he was
doing, believed that he was dealing with
d man of sound mind
An unusual attempt was made by the
defense 10 get the viii made by Thaw
Oh the day OF his marriage to Evelyn
Nesbit in evidence. Justice Downing
ruled that il had not been Identified sutf-
GENTLY, hut Martin w Iittleton, Thaw's
counsel. succeeded in getting before the
jury the .codIcil made by Thaw. The
Codicil was III evidence at the last trial
and in it Thaw made<prOvision for the
prosecution of White and for legal re-
dress for the young women friends of
White The names Of the young women
were read 20 the jury
jerome CroxS-examines.
Mr.. Jerome resumed his cross-examina-
ton of Comstock as soon as court recon-
veued after luncheon.
One letter from Comstock written 10
Thaw on June ., 1865, when Thaw and his
bride were at the Hotel St Francis in
San Francisco. on their wedding trip. was
read, C0mstock, after thanking Tbaw for
d contribution for the work of the So
ciety for the Prevention Of Crime, added:
Il sincerely hope that you and your be
loved are enjoying the best or health and
the highest enjoyment Still another let
ter TO Thaw at Pittsburg on April 10. 1906
a little over two months before Thaw
killed White returned more thanks for
another contribution.
A little before this John B. Gleason,
who was playing bridge with Thaw at the
Whist Club in West ThiTty-SiXth street
the afternoon before White was killed,
and who was one OF Thaw's counsel at