Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-23
ELDER Mrs. THAW Tells
TALE FULL OF PATHOs
Though stIn Feeble She Goes on
Witness Stand 10 Tell Of
Family Insanity TaInts.
END OF TRIAL DRAWING NEAR
Defensc Puts Expert Aieniat on the
Stand, Which Shows That Their
Gaze ia Drawing to closc-Thaw's
First Teacher Says That whippinss
Did Him No Good
(py Associated pressl

NEW YORK. Jan. 22-The end OF
the proceedings in the Thaw trial is
fast approaching. This was indicated
late today when Dr. Charles G. Wag-
ner, the first of the alenists to be
called by the defense. took the stand
for his preliminary examination
Anthony Coms;ork. vice president
OF the Society for the Suppression OF
Vice. had Deen heard as Il witness
earlier in the day. and Mrs. William
Thaw, mother of the defendant. had
completed her testimony.
The kindergarten teacher who had
charge of Harry Thaw as lad OF
six also testified
NJ. Comstock's testimony. while
newt, had been discounted by the
known facts OF Thaw's appeal to him
TO assist in closing up the house
where Stanford White was alleged to
have maintained deliberately furnish
ed apartments and where young girls
were said to have been mistreated.
A dozen letters Thaw wrote TO Mr..
Comstock regarding the matter. hav-
ing detailed description of the
'Nh's iOai III 0tiCCL HOubt, were au -
mited in evidence and read to the
Jury
District Attorney Je,ome seemed
as pleased as the defense with the
letters and later In the day read into
the record himself most of Mr.. Com
stocks replies to Thaw.
The witness indicated in his tes-
timony that nothing ever came of
the complaints. legal advice being
lacking.
Mrs. William Thaw, still unable 10
walk unassisted because of her re-
rent illness, told of Thaw's early life.
or influences before his birth and OF
the mental unsoundness of two of
her brothers.
Mrs. Thaw, ST., Not Cross Examined.
She was not cross examined. Mr..
Jerome contented himself with reading
TO the jurors the affidavit made by
the elder Mrs. Thaw last year. when
the question of her sons sanity was
before lunacy commission In that
affidavit she declared that in the di-
rect line of descent there had been
no insanity in Harry Thaw's family
for four generations.
AS to the collateral cases Mrs.
Thaw said in the afldivit there were
but two and they were easoily &C.
counted for.
In ner statement to the commits
sion Mrs. Thaw also resented the in
situations which she said she had
been compelled 10 suffer because of
the newspaper reports of insanity in
the family; she asserted there were
no FAMILY secrets TO hide and there
were no skeletons TO be barred
Mr.. Lttleton may continue with
expert testimony tomorrow. or he may
offer rs witnesses the doctors from
Paris and London who are to testify
briefly OF attending Thaw in these
cities. Another doctor Is expected
to testify about an outbreak on a
train and that Will end all save the
expert testimony.
Today the codicil to Thaw's will
was placed in evidence. but the will
itself was temporarily ruled out
becanse of the insuftlciency of evil
dence showing its custody since 1905
Mr., Littleton said that he would
supply this tomorrow or Friday. The
codicil provided a number of beouests
to lawyers ana others to aid alleged
victims of Stanford White to pros
ecute claims for damages against him
and for the prosecution of all persons
engaged lin such unlawful practices
( as said Stanford White"
Thaw names number of young
women now on the stage as possible
claimants against White
Following the reading of the codici
Mr. Littleton called Anthony Com
stock to the stand.
comstock'e Testimony.
Mr.. Comstock said that Thaw call
ed at his Office In February. 1904
and complained of n party who was
wrongIng Young girls.
Thaw went into details with the
witness. Mr.. Comstock also said he
frx1,tt-..