The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24
il he ever got into the 24th street


house.
mo. sir" ia
The prosecutor devoted nusn of mis-
time with the witness TO calling at
! tention To the fact that the state
ments in the letters were coherent.
understandable and rational in their
references TO historical events.
Mr. Comstock produced at Mr.. Je-
rome's request letter copy book con-
| tanning the replies sent by Comstock
; to Thaws letters.
There were also several letters writ
ten by Mr.. Comstock TO the children's
society concerning the matters com.
planned OF by Thaw. The latter le.-
ters indicated that the alleged crimes
more properly belonged 10 the pro-
vince of the children's organization
The cross examination quickly end
! ed and John Il. Gleason of counsel for
jThaw at the first trial was called in
connection with proving Thaw's will.
Justice Bowling said it would be
necessary before the will could be re-
ceived in evidence TO produce witness
es to show it was in its present condi-
tiOn previous to the homicidr. The
district attorney attempted to ques-
ton Mr. 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 district attorneys
professional privilege.
Mrs. William Thaw, the mother, was
recalled to conclude her testimony.
Mrs. Thaw told OF waking up one
night shortly before Harry's birth and
finding that her eldest child, an infant
was dead in her bed. The nervous
shock was so severe. that for more
than seven months she scarcely slept
at all.
AS an infant Harry Thaw suffered
she had ever known in child He was
lervous and instead of sleeping at
night would insist upon being propped
up TO a sitting posture in bed, his
eyes having a wide awake EXPIRES
sion.
The mother vent into detail of the
defendants early life telling Of his
various ills and never-ending attacks of
nervousness. Mrs Thaw told of the va
rious schools the boy had attended
from time TO tine
Mrs. Thaw also testified to the un-
sound mental condition of her broth
ers, Josiah Copley ana Henry w. Cop
ley and stated that her husbands sis
ter, Mrs. Hirsch was an epileptic.
District Attorney Jerome waived
cross examination of Mrs. Thaw under
agreement of the defense to admit into
evidence the affidavit the mother made
last year before the lunacy commits
sion.
Mrs Belle Morehouse Lawrence,
Thaw's first teacher, next was called
to the stand. 1t was as VI ss Morehouse
that she taught Harry Thaw in her
Kindergarten school at Pittsburg.
Harry was q delicate child" she
said, with large head. He was always
brooding; he would stand with his
mouth wide open and his eyes were
blank and peculiar. When he came
to me he was five years and eleven
months old, but mis- speech was un-
that he had language OF his own.
had to give him private lessons. "
Harry would be overcome by pc
riods of excitement or paroxysms of
temper" she continued, ''and when he
had nearly reached commissions IL
would be necessary to carry him bodily
from the room and pour water On his
wrists and place cold cloths on his
head to cool his blood. These out
breaks occurred twice day at times |
The days when there was no trouble
were rare.
After the applications OF water his
lace would become calm and Ian
guild"
She said he would sometimes try
to beat against the Wall with a
chair.
Did his actions impress you as
rational or irrational?"
Irrational"
Did you report to his mother the
result of your obseryations?'
Yes, / told her / was afraid some
thing would happen to his brain from
being over-stimulated and that he
lacked stamina
Did You ever call in a physician
for Thaw?" asked Mr.. Jerome.
NO"
You only gave him cold water for
his tantrums?
ffYes."
did you ever try spanking him for
his tantrums"
mo"
Mrs. Lawrence said after consulting
an emineyt authority sic tried cor
a