Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-31
CRAFTY JEROME MAKES AN APOLOGY

posed of the mothers testimony that
MIR. Jerome finally entered to a de-
tailed consideration Of the story told
by Evelyn Nesbit Thaw.
Whether she was drugged or not
is not MATERIAL he said. For my
part / don't believe it; but l am con-
WINGED, from the letters Thaw wrote
in Paris, that she told him the story
she says she did. Dragged or not. that
see WIS wrOnged-grossly wronged-is
wholly true.
THAT the place in 22nd and 2ith
streets she has described to you eX-
listed. is as true as that you are sit
ting here. That they were maintained
by miserable lot of degenera,es.
some Of whom still live in this city
and whose names have been mentioned
here, is the absolute truth. That they
we're maintained for gross sexual
orgies is true. But the issue here is.
not whether Stanford White deserved
death.
We can't go into tlat-we have no
right 10 consider it,
Mr.. Jerome here caused another
deep surprise by paying an unexpect-
ed tribute to Evelyn Thaw, and heap
inS denunciation upon the man who
sought To shield his miserable life be-
hind her shame.
Poor little creature he said. She
never lad a chance in life for any
of the higher, cleaner, sweeter things.
At i she Was drifting around tile
studios and theatreS--the bread-WiI1
ner for the family. In Paris, she tells
you. she refused Harry ThaW because
OF her shame and because of her love
for him. How does ne repay that
love? That miserable man makes her
his companion and draGS her through,
Europe and rows with her mother
because she will not become q party
to the shameful proceedings. Is that
irrational? Any evidence OF insanity
there: No, bat depravity. depravity,
| always.
If Harry ThaW, after hearing that
awful story from the girl he loved,
had gone out and killed her traducer,
he might have not justified himself
in a court of law. but he certainly
| Would have found justification in
some higher forum.
But the sulking coward did not
kill. Years went by and Stanford
White does other things that makes
| him hate him. Finally he finds White
when his head is turned away, when
there is no protection near. and then
| he shoots. Oh, the miserable man who
sits here in his sanity. who sat here
| last year in his sanity and twice al
| lowed his wife's shame, in all lis sor-
| did nakedneSs to be spread upon the
| records OF this court. There he sits,
miserable man. seeking to save and
shield his miserable life behind her
shame. What do you think Of such q
man? Mir. Littleton, when lie SAID the
American people ara liberal and broad :
minded WAS right. But is it broad
| mindedness to let such a creature as
this skulk behind the petticoat OF The
wife he has held up in all her help
less shame?
"A bald. worthless pervert, that's
what he is. To my mind this whole
| trouble comes from two deganeru ties
quarreling over a woman. And the
| woman played one against the other
! That was all She knew; al her train
ing in the world had taught her. AS
! to the Abe Hunimel testimony, | know
| Funinel as well or better than any
/ body else and | say to you frarkly
| that l don't believe the contents of
the affidavit lie made are true | put
IL IN merely to show you that after
| her experience with Thaw in Paris.
Evelyn Nes5it was again in Stanford
Whites hand and the motive for his
death had been formed"
Mr.. Jerome fierceiy aSsailed the
alienists for the defence. declaring tina
| 1t was crying shame that eXperts
could be purchased to testify to any
thing. Their evidence, he declared.
| served one purpose and that 20 en-
pha5ize its utter worthlessness. Not
| one statement made by them, he de-
clared, vas worthy OF credence.
On concluding his argument NJ.
Jerome denounced the death OF STAN
| ford White Us a cowartilv murder He
explained the three degrees Of guilt
permissible according as the jury
viewed the evidence and pointed ont
the basis Of each. Against these pos
slble verdicts Of guilty was only the
conclusion OF not guilty on the ground
| OF lnsa nity--that Thaw did no. know
| ne held pistol III his Land when he
SHOT with perfect ana deadly aim:
that he did not know it was Stanford
W nite he attacked when lie told the
policeman lie had shot White ana
wanted to know if he was dead: that
ne d;d not know it was against the
law to do what he did: thai he did
not know what he was wanted for
when he surrendered himself to the
police ana asked to be taken to the
station house quickly to avoid the
crowd. Then the district attorney
said:
IL you do not believe he WIS SO in
sane as not to know what he was do
ing, you have got to find him guilty
Iii some degree or you have not kept
the oath You swore to when you took
your place in this jury box"
MI Jerome finished at 40 O'Clock
and the court adjourned until TO-
o'clock tomorrow morning.
GEN. MILES AT BANGOR.
Delivers Address on Observations and