Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-18

4StN IOIh, Jdli oSliCo VI Jul
| prises brought the Thaw trial near a
f, crisis today Both Evelyn Thaw, the
| wife, and Mrs. William Tnaw, the
mother Of the defendant, We're on the
| witness stand and just as the former
was about 20 relate anew the story OF
her life as she told it to Thaw in Paris
in 1903. District Attorney Jerome arose
and suggested that in the interest OF
public morals all persons save those
Immediately interested in the case be
excluded from the court room during
the. recital of what he termed "a horri-
| bic tale" The motion included the rep
| resenta:ives of newspapers as we'll as
the public generally.
Attorney Littleton of the defence
joined in 1t to shield the young wo-
man from hundreds Of curious eyes and
said that so far as the constitutional
right to an open hearing was concerned
he was ready to waive that point in any
ironclad manner the court might sug-
gest. Proceedings We're suspended until
next Monday morning, when Justice
Bowling, who is presiding. will an
nounce his decision.
The district attorneys suggestion was
a distinct surprise, and called forth
the remark by Justice Bowling that it
would have come with greater force at
the first trial.
When Mr.. Jerome arose it was gen.
orally believed that he was about to
combat the admissibility of young Mrs.
Thaws testimony on the ground that
it could not have had a very serious
effect upon the mind of the man who
subsequently became her husband. in
asmuch as the homicide did not occur
until three years thereafter. Mr.. Jer-
ONE had previously objected to Mrs.
Thaw's detailing concentrations she had
with Thaw three years prior TO the
tragedy, but Justice Bowling ruled
that the declarations of the defendant
were admissible on general principles
and without any reference to the Wood
case, under which the evidence in dis
pute was admitted last year. and which
Mr.. Jerome had been expected to ask q
construction Of this year.
II will not except to your honor's
ruling" said the district attorney, as
he took his seat after his objection,
'for the state has no power of appeal.
Then MIR. Jerome attacked the wit
ness in another way and by standing
Immediately in front Of her and OBJ
| jecting to practically every question
| which Mr.. Littleton asked in his pre-
| liminary examination as to her eoriy
| history, cut her recital from the effec-
| tive narrative form it assumed last
year into a hundred fragments. Many
OF the objections, based on irlrvelancy
| and imma teriality We're sustained by
| the court. When these failed the prose-
cutor was ready with others until the
| testimony was fairly torn to shreds
and had entirely lost the many little
| touches of interest which We're part
| of the recital last year when no OBJ
| jections were offered
| Mr.. jerome said his objections were
cats land a lot OF other stuff" which.
| had no place in the trials.
The day. however, was one Of good
| progress for the defence. The elder
Mrs. Thaw, pale and weak from her
recent illness, was assisted to the Wit
ness chair and repeated a large part
| of the testimony she gave a year ago.
Her appearance and the sincerity OF
her evidence as she told of her son 5
| strange conduct after meeting Evelyn
Nesbit and hearing her story, had a
! 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 Thaw's in
fancy.
District Attorney Jerome's manner
while she was on the stand was all de-
ference and it was his suggestion which
led to the respite in her ordeal. But
when the young wife took the stand
the change was marked. jerome glar-
ed at her from the very first and his
objections were fairly shouted into her
| ears. Well accustomed to court usa &c
from her former experience, the young
woman waited patiently for a ruling
as 10 each objection. When they were
sustained she was silent; when over
ruled she was ready with a response.
Effective testimony was given at the