Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-18

long e. accent on the first syllable Mrs
Thaw said she was not pleased with the
notOriety and sent for her son. He de-
| clared there was no wrong in anything
he had done and that the young woman
had been very ill.,
| Mrs. Thaw next told of her consent
early in 1905 to her sons marriage with
Miss Nesbit with the proviso that the
girls past history never was to he men,
toned again. The marriage was perform
ed at Pittsburg m April, 1908.
| Harry in all his talk never suggested
at any time that it had been the girls
fault" said Mrs Thaw
The examination was temporarily sus-
pended here. Mrs. Thaw had to be as
sisted from the witness chair.
Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw then was
called to the stand. She said size was
the wife of the defendant and was born
Christmas day, 1884. Her father died
when she was 10 years old.
Mr.. Jerome objected to practically ev-
cry question Mr.. Littleton asked the
witness to her early history and was
sustained in many of them.
| The questions ruled out usually had to
do with how long she lived in various
places and her age when the moves were
lmade.
| Mr. Jerome said he did not want the
time of the jury taken UP this year as
it vas the last time with stories about
pet cats ard other irrelevant stuff
Mr. Jerome was on his feet the whole
time and objected to practically every
question.
Mr. Littleton noted an exception each
time the court sustained the objections.
Mrs. Thaw finally was allowed to say
that when living in Philadelphia before
coming to New York she posed for va
rious artists. among them Elizabeth
Shipper Green, Jessie Wilcox Smith,
George Gibbs and Peel Thompson.
At this time she was II years of age.
Only about one question in five was
allowed to be answered by the court. The
others were ruled out on the ground OF
immateriality.
| The witness was allowed to tell of COM
ing to New York at the age of Is and
posing for Carroll Becllwith, Carl Blen-
ner and other artists here She was not
allowed to tell how much compensation
she obtained or whether her mother was
employed at the time.
| After the recess, Mrs. Thaw told how
| she went on the stage in Floradora.
The details Of her seeking employment
and the difficulty she encountered be-
cause Of her youth, were barred from
the jury this year. Mr.. Jerome being
ever ready with objections t. shut out
much Of the testimony allowed at the
| first trial
Finally Justice Bowling announced
that he would allow only such CUES
tons as tended to give an outline q
Mrs. Thaws early life. to establish ncr
creditabiity as Il witness. She sal"
that she first met Harry TiaW jas
before Christmas. 1891. She saw hlm
several times in 1872. Once while she
was i'll at school in New Jersey.
How long were YOU ill.,"
OBJECTED to-" said Jerome.
So the examination proceeded, the
prosecutor objecting every time NJ
Littleton turned from the direct Sc
qnence If events in the young Woman'S
career.
When the district attorney objected
once NOR. Justice bowling ruled that
the acts and declarations Of the de-
PENDANT TO his wife We're competent
testimony on general principles i'll any
murder case.
Mr. Jerome began to cite the Wood
case IS to the revelations made by
wife 20 her husband as affecting the
latter's mind, but Justice bowling said
that that question had not yet arisen
in the present hearing.
Notwithstanding inccssant objections
BY Mr.. Jerome, Mrs. Thaw related how
she went IL Europe in the spring OF
1893 after a severe illness. Thaw's SER
wants and her mother accompanied her,
and Thaw himself met her in Paris
and carried her to an apartment which
had been prepared for her
When Mr.. Jeromes objections as 10
irravelancy or immaterialty failed he
objected on the ground that the ques-
tions were leading. All the while, he
stood glaring at the witness. Thaw,
the witness said. was very attentive
to ner in Paris and asked her to marry
him.
II replied that I could not. He ask
ed me why not and l said again that
l could not. He asked if it was be-
cause of Stanford White, and I said It
was. lie then wanted to know all
about it"
Here Mr. Jerome asked that the pub
lie. including the newspaper reporters
De excluded from the court room dur
ing the recital of Mrs. Thaw's story
rs related to Thaw in Paris. He said
1t was shocking in every way and
should be excluded.
Justice Downing said the suggestion
would have come with greater force
st the first trial. Excluding the news
papers at this time would not prevent
The publication Of the testimony as at
first given. He asked. however, that
Tie newspaper men exercise their pow
.r for the public good by suppressins
II many details as possible.
District Attorney Jerome said the
papers would not publish anything like
tho same reports as last year or they
would lay themselves liable for prose-
cUtion.
Il have nothing to do with the news
rapers or what they. choose to do JUS
ticA Bowling said. but am ready to
receive suggestions from counsel