Evening star., 1908-01-20
STORY OF EVELYN
TOLD ONCE AGAIN
Wife of Harry ThaW Takes the
Witness Stand.
RELATIONS WITH white
Narrative Scarcely Varied From
That of Last Year.
WAS HAMPERED BY JEROME
Constant Interruptions Of District
Attorney Took the Edge
OF the Recital.
WAS HAMPERED BY JEROME

today on the witness stand at the
trial Of her husband before JUS
tice Dowling, in the criminal
branch of the supreme court, the
story of the wrong which, she
says, she suffered at the hands OF
Stanford White. and added new
details to her narrative that were
not heard at the first trial. 1t was
not without strong objections on
the part of the district attorney
that Mrs. Thaw was allowed to
give her testimony in public, and
when Mr.. Jerome was overruled
in his point he fought strenuously
for the exclusion of the story alto
gether.
His main argument on this lat
ter point was based on the fact
that Thaw had committed his
crime, three years after he had
heard this story, which the de-
fense contends had unfinged his
mind.
Over the objection Of District Attorney
Jerome, who declared the recital three
years before the tragedy could have had
no effect upon the defendants mental con-
dition' at the time he killed Stanford
White. Mrs. Evelyn Nesbitt Thaw took
tho witness stand In the trial of Harry
X. Thaw, her husband. today and told
again the story Of her alleged experiences
as girl Of sixteen years in New York,
Of her meeting with Stanford White. of
the house OF the velvet swing and the
mirrored room; ALL she declared, exactly
as she told 1t to Thaw In Paris in June.
1900. when he had asked her to become his
wife. The story was told to q filled court
room. Justice Dowling overruling the mo-
ton OF District Attorney Jerome to close
the door to all persons not officially con-
nected with the case. Mr.. Littleton. for
the defense. refused to Join In the motion.
saying he preferred to leave the matter
entirely to the discretion of the court.
Young Mrs. Thaw's voice broke a. one
time during her recital. and the defendant
also wept: but the electric effect Of the
testimony given last year was miss
ing. This was largely due to the course
OF the district attorney. who interposed an
almost continuous stream Of objections
and was nearly always on his feet, stand
ing just between the witness and the de-
tendant.
The attitude of the prosecutor awoke a
tone of defiance in the witness voice. and
this did not aid the story. but the jury and
courtroom listened intently.
There was no variance in the recital
from last years narration. but it was
shorter at the instance both OF the court
and Of the district attorney. Mr. Little
ton resented Mr. jerome manner several
times. and once protested against the
prosecutor attempting TO lecture the wit
ness.
Meeting With White.
When Mrs. Thaw started to tell of con-
versations with Thaw to hoping to be
a great actress some day Mr.. Jerome OBJ
jected. and Justice Downing suggested the
testimony be made as brief as possible.
Mr.. Littleton maintained that he was
doing this
The objections of the district attorney
had begun to nettle the counsel for the
defense by this time. and he made many
sharp replies to that officer.
Mrs Thaw said she was fifteen years
teen when she met Stanford White She
went briefly over the events which fol-
lowed her return from Europe in Novem-
Der, 1908 OF meeting again with White OF
hearing from him that Thaw had made
practice of treating young girls brutally
and OF telling this to Thaw when he
sought her out upon his return from Paris
several weeks later. She told Thaw also
OF being taken by White to the Office of
Abraham II. Hummel and signing a pa
per there. Thaw was very much excited
over II all, and told her she had been very
foolish. that she ought to have known
him better than to believe the stories fold
her by White and his friends.
Her Early Poverty.
Mr.. Jerome would not allow any oues-
tions to be asked until the witness had
completely exhausted her memory of the
conversation with Thaw. His constant OBJ
tecuons did much to decrease the ef-
fectiveness of the recital.
For several days after I had told him
about Stanford White" said the witness.
Mr.. Thaw would sit for hours looking
into space. When j would speak to him
II was always some little time before he
Did Mr.. Thaw ask you anything about
you early life?"
Yes. SIR"
What did you tell him.
Mr.. Jerome objected
Il sustain the objection" ruled Justice
Dowi!ng. las to anything that occurred
prior TO the meeting Of the witness with
Stanford White"
Mr. Li,tieton had sought to get the story
Of the girls early life. of her hardships
and the poverty OF her family before the
jury on Friday during his direct exam
ination OF the witness. but an objection
Of the district attorney WAS susta ned
M Littleton argued today that the early
life story Of the witness had a great dea
TO do with impressing Thaw with the
truth OF her story. and thus had a direct
effect TO inducing insanity.
Upon this presentation of the matter
Justice Bowling reversed his former rul.
ing and allowed the witness to proceed.
Ruling of Bowling.
Evidently induced by Mr.. Jerome's con.
stant objections and his manner of In