The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-15
Rushing From Pittsburg
Home to Testify in Young
Slayer's Behalf.
WEAyES INSANITY WEB
Nurses. Teachers, Physicians and
Old Associates Tell OF Rich
Defendants Queer Actions.
Club Steward on the
Witness Stand.

Thaw, the young millionaire who is
fighting to save his life, appeared
greatly cheered when court convened
today. The cause for his apparent
happy demeanor was the announce
nent that his aged mother, Mrs. Will
lam Thaw, would be on hand before
night.
Mrs. Thaw is coming from a sick
bed. Physicians We're unable to keep
her in her Pittsburg mansion. She
also refused to give her testimony to
a representative of the court, decIar-
ing that she must be by her sons side
in the great battle that is being waged
to keep him from the electric chair
for Staying the distinguished artist,
Stanford White
Martin w. Ldttleton introduced more
witnesses today to prove that Thaw
has been insane from birth.
DR.. Horatius C. Wood, of PhiladeI-
phia, was called to the stand as the
first witness today. DIR. Wood some
years ago made an examination of 9ar-
riet Alice Thaw, relative of the de-
fendant.
District Attorney Jerome objected To
the physicians testimony, but was
overruled by the court, as the relation
of attending physician and patient did
not exist in this case.
Dr. Wood said that Miss Thaw was
of unsound mind.
The next witness to be heard told of
new eccentricities of Thaw just before
/ the killing of White. He was Christo-
4 lfaIla ri of Rr
York Whist Club. Thaw was in the
club on June 20. 1906, just five days be-
fore the roof garden tragedy. Although
the day was hot, Thaw insisted on
taking q screen with him wherever he
went about the rooms He was highly
nervous, excitable and irritable, and
once as he passed the witness was
muttering, "This IS awful"
Baggan said Thaw finally came up
to him and asked him to have a pack
age put In the safe.
What was in the package?" asked
Mr.. Littleton.
Three cigarettes wrapped in tin foil"
Thaw's eyes, the witness said. had a
peculiar stare. A Telephone message
came for him, and when the witness
touched him to attract his attention.
Thaw trefnbled all over. When in ths
every day.
ibid Thaw impress you as rational OF
irrational?"
Irrational"
On cross-examination Baggan said he
had known Thaw for fourteen years
Thaw was in the club playing bridge
whist the day of the tragedy. Asked
who else was there, the witness said
Captain Wharton. John a. Drake and
John B. Gleason, one of counsel 70
Thaw at the first trial. At other times
he said "Mr. Gates" and "Mr. Schwab"
were present.
"But they always appeared calm,
didn't they?" asked Mr., Jerome.
Eyes"
"And Thaw was nervous?"
eyes
"And they were playing for money!"
81 don't Know"
Haven't you any idea?'
mo, sir. I'm not supposed TO have
any"
''I know you are not supposed to
! have any. but as a matter OF fact
| haven't you?"
1.-The rules forbid playing for money,
SIR"
The court officers had to suppress
frequent outbursts of laughter.
did Thaw and his party have any
thing to drink on June 25?"
"Oh, all sorts OF mineral waters"
"And what else?'
Nothing unless they had it with
them; we don't serve anything but
mineral waters at the club. sir"
But every member has locker?"
Eyes, sir"
''And they keep all they want in the
loclSer?"
''Yes, sir; I guess so. sir"
"And drinks were served from the
lockers that day?"
| "I really don't know, SIR
| At bridge Thaw generally was able
| to hold his own, the witness guessed.
! The witness said Thaw had been Inore
/ or less nervous ever since he mad
known him. Thaw was at the tele-
phone for the better part of an hour
the day of the tragedy, and the wit
/ ness heard him repeat, "This is awful"
Thaw's nervousness increased notice.
ably during the last years the witness
had known him.
Miss Matilda Stein, who was a tele-
phone operator at the Grand Hotel in
1908 and 1904, when Thaw was a guest
there, testified that she knew Thaw
under the name of Farr. She saw him
often, and his eyes were always staring
and bulgng. His manner was ira
tional One morning Thaw put in
seventy five telephone calls in less than
three hours one morning he ordered
his breakfast three times in twenty
minutes.
On cross-examination Miss Stein said
Evelyn Nesbit also was guest at the
Grand under the name of Miss Farr.
Wasn't il the morning after she left
that the seventy-five calls We're put
inY' asked District Attorney Jerome.
The witness was sure It was not, be-
cause Miss Nesbit had put in several
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