The Topeka state journal., 1908-01-17
Woman SwparS She Has Known
Thaw 26 Years.
Testifies to His Actions at Home
in 1908.
NERVOUS AND MOODY.
Was an Unusual Child and
Talked IncOherently.
At One Time He Thought He
Was About to Die.


New York, Jan. 17-Miss Alice C.
Fletcher of Washington, D. c., who
said she had been a frequent visitor at
the Thaw household in Pittsburg and
had known Harry K. Thaw for 26 years,
was the first witness today. She de-
clared that Thaw was an unusual child
nervous and moody, with wild and
staring eyes. He seldom talked coher-
| emily and was unable to carry on
sustained conversation.
Throughout the period you knew
Harry Thaw, did his acts and appear
ance impress you as rational or IRA
tiona1?" asked Mr. Littleton.
Irrational" declared the witness.
Miss Fletcher told of seeing Thaw at
his mothers house in 1903. Thaw said
he had an awful experience; that he
believed he had a terrible disease of the
eyes and thought he was going to die
in fact, he wanted to die. He men
toned Evelyn Nesbit's name frequent
ly, but his talk usually was too incO-
herent to follow. His eyes looked with
out seeing, apparently.
On cross-examination Miss Fletcher
said that although a frequent guest at
the Thaw home, she had never known
Harry to be placed under restraint in
any way.
Mrs. William Thaw, mother Of the
defendant was at the court house early
today ready to take the stand when
called. She plainly showed the evil
dences of her recent illness.
Mr.. Jerome wanted to know II the
witness's impression Of Thaw was
only of a nervous, eccentric man, or
a person of unsound mind.
He Would Not Eat.
HE impressed me always as a
person who was not rational" de-
clared Miss Fletcher. "He often acted
oddly, and would leave his meals un-
touched"
Did you ever counsel with his
mother as to Thaw's mental condi-
tion?" asked the prosecutor.
st remember his mothers anxiety
and her speaking to me about it..
do you remember anybody you
ever discussed the matter with p
ST never discussed Harry Thaw
with anybody"
Mr.. Jerome asked many questions
as to the ideas of irrationality the
| witness entertained and then started
| to inquire as to whether she had ever
before observed a young man very
much in love with a chorus girl, when
Justice Dowling interrupted to say
there was nothing in evidence so far
as to any chorus girl
'Well," said the prosecutor, chad
| you ever before observed young man
who told you of beautiful young
woman who had been greatly
| wronged?"
mo-
Catherine O'Neill. an elderly
| woman, who was nurse in the Thaw
| family for six years and took charge
! of Harry K. Thaw when he was be-
| tween and years Of age, testified
as to the childhood of the defendant.
She described him as very nervous and
moody. He would have nervous out
breaks which would end in complete
and there were general facial con-
tortions.
The nervous outbreaks occurred
during all the years the nurse was in
employ of the family, causing her to
reach the conclusion that Harry's
mind was affected.
Evelyn Thaw Called.
| Mr.. Lttleton here caused ripple OF
excitement by calling Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw to the stand. 1t had been said
Yesterday and again this morning that
she would not be witness until next
week. Young Mrs. Thaw, in her blue
school girl dress, appeared promptly
| and walked briskly to the witness chair
where Clerk Penny administered the
usual OATH
While Mrs. Thaw was sitting with
anxious face ready for her examina-
tion Mr. Littleton changed tactics and
asked her to withdraw for the time be-
inp to make way for Policeman Thorn
| as F. Lynch, who was doorman at the
Tenderloin police station during the
time Thaw was confined there for the
shooting of White. Lynch repeated the
! testimony he gave at the first trial,
as to Thaw complaining the first morn
ing after his arrest, of hearing the
voices of children 10 or II years old in
the tier of cells above his own. The
officer said to ThaW:
mo, you must be dopey. don't hear
! anything
Thaw's action in the station Impress
ed the witness as irrational
Doorman Barrett, who was on duty
at the station when Thaw first was
brought there, followed Lynch and ad-
ded his opinion to that of his brother
! officer, that Thaw acted like an IRA
/ tional man.
tion- that Thaw when arraigned at the
| sergeant's desk in the police station,
| appeared like a man who had been
. stabbed or shot himself.
His eyes were something terrible. -
exclaimed the witness; they stuck out
| like two hard boiled eggs.
| Rarrett'S croSs-examfnation had not
been concluded when recess was taken.
| Mrs. William Thaw saw her son for
the first time in months during the
tionate Evelyn Thaw, the wife. came
! in during the interview and 1t is said
she was cordially greeted by the elder
| woman.
! Doorman Barrett's cross examina-
ton was continued when the after
| noon session began.
| ThaU's Mother Called.
| Mrs. William Thaw was called and
| questioned by Mr.. Littleton, at the
/ afternoon session Thaw looked in
tently and earnestly at his mther, who
was very pale and weak in sharp
contrast to the ruddy good health
| which marked her appearance a year
| ago. Her testimony closely followed
that of the last trial. beginning with
the return Of her son to his P1ttsours