Evening star., 1908-01-22
Had Been Appealed to in White
Case Many Times.
WROTE ABOUT WILD ORGIES
Submitted Diagrams Of the So-Called
Studios
GAVE TO THE ANT1-v1CE FUND
Rambling Will and Codicil Of the
Defendant Submitted
to the Court. r.

70 Lu0 SOuIL. M
Anthony Comstock. vice presi-
deut of the Society for the Sup
preston Of Vice, was the princi-
pal witness at the trial of Harry
X. Thaw today. He testified that
late in 1904 Thaw came to him
and complained Of vicious prac-
tices by Stanford White and sew
eral OF Whites friends. During
the year that followed Thaw
wrote to him several, times and
was a frequent visitor at the vice
society headquarters.
The letters were read in evil
dence. They gave the names of
the alleged victims of White in
the famous 24th street studio
house, and he referred to White
as the '.blackguard.' The house.
Thaw declared, was consecrated
to orgies and controlled by six or
seven rich criminal scoundrels."
The letters were new evidence in
the case.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. January 22-Anthony
Comstock. the vice hunter. was the star
witness today at the trial OF Harry X.
Thaw before Justice Bowling in the
criminal branch of the supreme court.
Mr.. Comstock was called by the defense
to show how Thaw had sought to get eti-
dence against Stanford White and others
because of certain things which, he said.
went on in the houses rented by White
in East 22d street and 10 West, oath, street
aud ip, the tower Of Madison Square. Gar
den. Several letters which Thaw had
written TO Comstock were Introduced in
the course Of the testimony. All OF
them told of the activity of tile Pitts
burger in his pursuit Of evidence
These letters contained diagrams Of the
place. which according to Thaw. rich
scoundre1s and ravislers'' had .conse-
Grated to their orgies" He suggested
ways by which an entrance might be ef-
fected to some of them. For instance.
he said that plumber might drop a ham,
mer through a skylight and thus see the
interior OF one Of the places. In a room
there. the vice hunter was told might be
seen the picture of the masked Venus
Thaw had also written that III an en-
trance might be effected at one OF the
places after an elderly man and a young
girl were seen going inside that felony
would be discovered
Comstock told of placing detectives at
the different places and that they were
unable TO get any evidence. Once when
Ihaw called on him the young man said
that detectives were following him and
that they were out In the hall at that mo-
ment A search of the corridors failed to
reveal any sleuths.
Thought He Was Swallowed.
The witness identified several communi-
cations from Thaw. one of the papers
being diagram of the premises, where
ne declared. evil men were carry
ing on criminal practices. Thaw declared
that workmen on buildings near these
premises had heard young girls scream,
and suggested that men be sent to watch
the entrances to the place. Thaw also
said he had communicated with the Sec
retsTy of the Society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty to Children, suggesting that q
search warrant be issued and an investi-
cation be made of the house, which was
located in 22d street
Thaw said he had been followed To nv
office the second time by men who were
employed TO watch him. continued the
witness. i sent several men out in the
hallway to see If any one was there
Mr. Jerome objected to the witness
telling the result Of this search. but it
came out in the discussion that no one
had followed Thaw
when Thaw came back 10 see me the
third tfme." resumed Mr.. Comstock. II
told him had been unable to secure any
evidence as the house In I'D street seemed
TO be closed He said he would furnish
me the names Of several girls who had
been there. told him it would be-
necessary TO colToborate their stories and
we talked the matter over some little
while
Criminal Scoundrels."
Mr.. Comstock here identified three more
letters from Thaw, one having been re-
ceived as late April. 1908, two months
before the tragedy.
Mr.. Littleton first read to the Jury a
communication from Thaw 10 Comstock
written in November, 1894. It ATTEMPTED
TO give in detail a description OF the
2ith street house, with crude diagrams
appearing here and there In the text.
Thaw declared that one room was fur
nished like forest and that secret stairs
led from 1t to the room of the mirrors
The door IN the forest room was hard
TO find. the letter declared and there.
were drugged. Thaw claimed that six
Or seven criminal scoundreis' controlled
the place and that three or four decent
young men who did not know OF the
criminal acts often frequented the place
Thousands OF crimes have, been COM
mitted there and many felonies." Thaw
wrote. and added that there was little
room to which access was gained by a
door behind picture. In this room
the letter went on. there is q valuable
French painting of a woman and of
peculiarly Infamous suggestivity."
In another letter Thaw suggested that
plumbers working on a building adjoining
the cath street house might he induced
to drop some heavy article through the
skyiight and reveal what was below.
Thaw also called attention to the fact
that there was libel suit in Paris in
stituted by young woman who bad been
mentioned as posing for the picture pre-
v.ously complained of. Thaw declared
that the houses in I'D and 2&th streets
we're "consecrated TO orgies by a gan. Of
rich criminals
Thaw Gave Funds.
Thaw in this letter suggested that o
copy of one of his letters be sent TO