The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-23

and Twenty-fourth streets were "conse-
 crated to orgies by gang of rich crim- inals" Thaw in his letter suggested that copy of his letters be sent to Dis trict Attorney Jerome and also suggested that if MT. Comstock needed more funds to carry on the inquiry he might ask Miss Helen Gould for assistance in that line. Giving the name of a young
 tress Thaw described at length what he said was effort to save this girl from
 'the blackguard." Thaw said he enlisted prominent man in the cause who was
 at first loath to believe that such prac-
 tices as complained of existed, but was
 afterward convinced. This man threw
 what protection he could about the girl,
 guard got her.
 Another Victim.
 Besides four victims l have already
 told you about there is another" Thaw
 continued. "rhe blackguard asked her to
 marry him and she left her place. It
 is now being talked about in the news
 paper offices and l hope to be able to
 give you the name and details soon.
 Please destroy this.'
 In several of the letters Thaw spoke of
 enclosing $100 more for the secret serv-
 ice fund. Thaw wrote under the name
 of Ferguson" in accordance with an
 arrangement he had previously made, so
 that his name would not be included in
 the annual report of contributions. On cross-examination District Attorney Jerome asked Mir. Comstock if he ever
 got into the Twenty-fourth street house. No, sir
 time with the witness to calling attention to the facts that the statements in the f letter were coherent, understandable and
 rational in their reference to historic events. The communications, the witness said, came in the usual way through the
 mails with postage fully paid and ad-
 dressed according to directions given to Thaw.
 MT. Comstock was still on the stand when luncheon recess was ordered.
 Letter Book Shown. Mr. Comstock, at the afternoon ses-
 sion, produced, at MT. Jerome's re-
 quest, a letter copy-book containing the replies sent by Comstock to Thaw's
 letters. There were also several let ters written by MT. Comstock to the children's society concerning the mat
 ters complained of by Thaw. The lat ter letters indicated that the alleged crimes more properly belonged to the province of the children's organiza- tion.
 The ross-examination quickly ended, and John B. Gleason, of counsel for Thaw, at the first trial, was called in
 connection with proving the defend
 ants will. MT. Gleason said the will came into his possession in December,
 1906. He received 1t by registered mail
 from J. Deniston Lyon, the Pittsburg | banker who testified at the first trail that he received the will from Thaw in 1905. Mir. Jerome still objected. Justice Bowling said it would be
 necessary before the will could be read
 in evidence to produce witnesses to show it was in its present condition previous to the homicide. The district attorney attempted to question MT. Gleason as to any letters written by Stanford White to Evelyn Nesbit which may have come into his possession, but was blocked by the exercise of the at torney's professional privilege. Mrs. Thaw Recalled. As MT. Gleason left the stand, Mrs. William Thaw, the mother, was re- 1 called to conclude her testimony begun l last week.
 Mrs. Thaw told of waking up one ! night shortly before Harry's birth, and | finding that her eldest child, an in- 1 fant. was dead in bed. The nervous shock was so severe, she declared, that 1 for more than seven months she scarce 1 ly slept at all. As an infant, Harry | Thaw suffered the most remarkable | sleeplessness she had ever known in child. He was nervous, and instead of sleeping at night. would insist upon
 being propped up to sitting posture | in bed, his eyes having wide awake
 expression. She went into the details i of the defendants early life, telling of
 his various ills and never ending at | tacks of nervousness. The first teach 1 CT he ever had was Miss Belle More house Lawrence, when he was years | old. Mrs. Thaw also testified as to the
 unsound mental condition of her broth
 CTS. Josiah Copley and Henry W. Cop l lev. and stated that he husbands sis | fer. Mrs Hirsch, was an epileptic. | District Attorney Jerome waived | cross-examination of Mrs. Thaw under
 agreement of the defense to admit into l evidence the affidavit the mother made last year before the lunacy commission which was inquiring into her sons 1 condition of mind.
 ! Jerome Reads Affidavit. | Mr. Jeronie began to read the af- 6dayit to the jury, as Mrs. Thaw, who | still sh rows the effect of her recent ill., ness. was assisted from the stand In l the document, Mrs. Thaw declared that | in the direct line of descent, for Tour 1 generations, there was no epilepsy or 1 insanity in the family of the defendant l As to the epilepsy of Mrs. Hlrsch' the 1 affidayat stated that the children were | entirely free from any taint of the dis- l ease, showing clearly that Mrs. Hirsch s attack was due to scarlet fever, Tn ln- l fancy. and not from inheritance. ..The defendants grand parents on both sides" continued the affidavit, 1 were universally respected Tor their we'll balanced qualities of heao anu l heart" Az to her brother. Josiah, Mrs Thaw declared in the affidavit that the boy had a brilliant mind and was an as. l siduous student. His commencement. :. | day oration at Amherst was so splenoio an effort, the Judges decided unwisely SCI not to place time-limit on nm. rssult was an attack of brain fever Followed bv three days of acute mania