Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-01-18
THAW'S WIFE
RELATES HER
STORY AGAIN
Mother and Wife of The Prisoner
Both on the Stand Pitia-
BILE Sight.
MOTHER FAST DECLINING
Did Her Best to Prevent Her Son
Marrying the "Nsshit Girl,
She Said.
EFFORT TO SAVE THE PUBLIC
Keep Disguiing Details That Preyet
on ThaW's Mind From Curious
is Ierome's Object.
MOTHER FAST DECLINING
EFFORT TO SAVE THE PUBLIC

NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.--A series OF
surprises brought the Thaw trial neal
d crisis, as both Evelyn Thaw, the
wife, and Mrs William Thaw, the
mother of the defendant, were on the
witness stand, and just as the former
was about to relate anew the story OF
her life as she told it to Thaw In Paris
in 1908 District Attorney Jerome arose
and suggested that in the interest OF
public morals all persons save those
Immediately interested in the case
should be excluded from the courtroom
during the recital of what he termed
"a horrible tale" The motion included
the representatives Of newspapers as
well as the public generally.
Attorney Martin w. Littleton of the
defense joined in 1t to shield the young
woman from hundreds of curious eyes
and said that so far as the constitu
tional right to an open hearing was
concerned he was ready to waive that
point in any ironclad manner the court
might suggest. Proceedings were sus-
pended until Monday morning, when
Justice Dowling, who Is presiding,
Will announce his decision.
The district attorneys suggestion
was distinct surprise and called
forth the remark from Justice Dowlins
that 1t would have come with greater
force at the first hearing of the case
When Mr.. Jerome arose, it was gener'
ally believed that he was about to con
tend against the admissibility Of young
Mrs. Thaw's testimony on the ground
that it could not have had very seri
GUS effect upon the mind of the man
who subsequently became her hus
band, inasmuch as the homicide die
not occur until three years thereafter.
Mr.. Jerome had previously objected
to Mrs. Thaw detailing conversations
she had with Thaw three years prior
to the tragedy, but Justice Dowlina
ruled that the declarations of the de
fendant were admissible on genera
principles.
The day. however. was one Of good
progress for the defense The elder
Mrs. Thaw, pale and weak from her
recent illness. was assisted to the wit,
ness chair and repeated q large part
of the testimony she gave year ago
Her appearance and the sincerity OF
her evidence as she told of her sons
strange conduct after meeting Evelyn
Nesbit and hearing her story had G
marked effect upon all who listened
On account of her weak condition her
examination was interrupted by con
sent, to be resumed some time next
week, when she will tell OF. Thaws IN
fancy District Attorney Jerome's man
ner while the mother was on the stand
was all Difference, and it was his sug-
gestion which led to the respite in her
ordeal. But when the young wife took
the stand the change was marked. Je-
rome glared at her from the very first,
and his objections were fairly shouted
in her ears. Well accustomed to court
usage from her former experience, the
young woman waited patiently for a
ruling as to each objection. When
| they were sustained she was silent;
when overrnled. she was ever ready
with her response.
Effective testimony was given at the
session by Miss Alice G. Fletcher of
| Washington, long time friend of the
Thaws and a frequent visitor at their
home. She said she had known Harry
Thaw for twenty-six years and he had
slways impressed her as irrational
Miss Catherine O'Neill, who nursed
I r-tr. IA.
tenth year, added her evidence to that
already adduced as TO irrational con-
duct and tendencies on the part of the
defendant.
CONTINUED on page 6.l