Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-17
Mrs. William Thaw Tes.
titles in Defense OF
Her Son.
EVELYN CALLED UPON
Wife OF Prisoner Sworn, bu'
Later Gives Way to Other
Witnesses.

New York, Jan. 17.-Miss Alice
Fletcher who said she had been fire.
quent visitor at the Thaw household
in Pittsburg and had known Harry
X. Thaw for 26 years, was the first
witness in the Thaw trial today. She
declared Thaw was an unusual child.
nervous and moody, with wild and
staring eyes. He seldom talked CO.
heren;ly and was unable TO carry on
a sustained conversation. His acts
impressed her as irrational.
Never Under Restraint.
On cross examination Miss Fletcher
said although a frequent guest at
Thaws, she had never known Harry
to be placed under any restraint in
any way.
Nurse Tells of Childhood.
Catherine O'Neill, an elderly woman
who was q nurse in the Thaw family
for six years and took charge of Har-
ry when he was between and years
of age, testified as to the childhood of
the defendant. She described him as
very nervous and moody He would
have nervous outbreaks which would
end in a complete collapse. Thaw, she
said, suffered from ST. Vitus dance fol
lowing scarlet fever.
Calls Upon Evelyn.
Littleton here caused ripple of ex-
citement by calling Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw to the stand. She was clad in
her blue school girl dress, appeared
promptly. and walked briskly tos the
witness chair, where Clerk Penny ad-
ministered the usual oath.
Changes Tactics.
While She was sitting with anxious
face ready for her examination, Little
ton changed his tactics and asked her
to withdraw for the time being, to
make way for Policeman Thomas F.
Lynch. doorman at the tenderloin po-
lice station at the time Thaw was con-
fined there. Lynch repeated the testi-
mony he gave at the first trial. Thaw's S
action at the station impressed the
witness as irrational. Dorman Barrett,
who was on duty at the station when
Thaw was first brought there, also tes-
titled Thaw acted like an irrational
man.
Interviews Her SON.
Mrs. William Thaw saw her son for
the first time in weeks during the noon
recess. The meeting was affectionate
Evelyn Thaw came in during the inter
view 1t is said she was cordially
greeted by the elderly woman.
Mother Called TO stand.
When Jerome had finished with the
policeman, Mrs. William Thaw was
'cal1ed to the stand. Her testimony
closely followed that of the last trial
beginning with the return of her son
to his Pittsburg home in November
1908, after Evelyn Nesbit had told hin
her story in Paris that summer.
Usually Harry came home buoyanl
and joyously," she declared, "but this
time there was not smile"
would Not Tell Trouble.
Mrs. Thaw said she asked her sol
what was the matter.
81 can't tell you, mother" he replied
81 never can tell
His mother then repeated what she
related on the stand last year as t.
her son crying and moaning during
the night: of his frequent playing a
the piano when the music would begin
loud and then die away until finally i
would stop, Thaw sitting a long whilt
at the instrument with his head cas-
down
Finally Breaks Silence.
Mrs. Thaw said she frequently aske,
her son what was worrying him an
finally he declared that a beautiful
young girl he was interested in had ha
terrible experience in New Yori
His mother told him he should nc
worry about such matters; that tn
girl had a mother who should care fo
her Thaw replied the girls mothe
had not looked after her and that wa
why it all had happened.
The examination of Mrs. Thaw wa
temporarily suspended. She had to
assisted from the witness chair. Mr.
Evelyn /Thaw was then called. Jerom
objected to practically every questio
Littleton asked the witness as to he
early history and was sustained
many of them.
Awaiting witnesses.
New York, Jan. 17.-Nonarrival {
important witnesses who are hurryin
to New York by steamer and trai
caused abandonment of the afternoc