The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-18
Thaw's Attorney Consents
to Jerome's Request and
the Judge Considers. !,
MOTHER ANDNVIsFE
BOTH ON STAND
Former Has to Suspend OH Ac.
count Of Exhaustion, and Dis
trict Attorney Breaks Up
Young Wife's Narrative
With Searching
Questions.

NEW YORK. January IA series
of surprises brought the rhaw case
near a crisis to-day 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 1t TO
Thaw in Paris in 1903, District Attor-
ney Jerome arose and suggested that
in the interest of public morals all
persons save those Immediately inter-
estad In the case should be excluded
from the courtroom during the recital
OF What he termed horrible tale
The motion included tho representa-
tives OF newspapers. as we'll as the
public generally. Attorney Martin w.
Littleton. OF the defense. joined In 1t
to shield the young woman from hun
far as the constitutional right to n
public hearing was concerned he was
ready to waive that point In any IRON
clad manner the court might suggest
Z Proceedings were suspended until
next Monday morning. when Justice
Bowling will announce his decision.
Came Az Big Surprise.
The district attorneys suggestion
was distinct surprise, and called
forth the remark from Justice Bowling
that 1t would have come with
greater force at the first hearing
OF the case. When Mr.. Jerome arose
1t was generally believed that he was
about to contend against the admissi.
Dility of young Mrs. Thaw's TESTIMONY
on me gro.nd that II could not have
lind very serious affect upon the mind
OF the man who subsequently became
her husband, inas.nuch as TIE iiornl-
cldr did not OCCUR Until three years
Hereafter. Mr.. Jerome had previously
obje,.fcd to Mrs. Ti,aw detailing con-
versations she mad with Thaw three
years prior to the tragedy. i.ut Jus.
t!ce r.owli,,g ruled that the dcclatn.
tions of the defendants were Admissible
on general principles.
Then AIR. Jerome attacked the wit
ness I'm another way. and by standing
immediately In front OF her and OBJ
ltectlng to practically every question
which MI Littleton asked in his pre-
tlim,nary examination to her early
history, cut the young woman's re.
lcital from the effective narrative form
LIT assumed last year into a. hundred
| fragments. Many Of the objections
based upon their relevancy and imna'
| itcriality. were sustained by the court
When these failed the prosecutor was
ever ready with others. until the tes.
ltimony was fairly torn into shreds ant
lad lost entirely the many little
touches Of human interest which were
part of the narration last year. wher
no objections were offered. Mr.. Jerom,
said his objections were intended t
lcut out all stories about pet cats anc
n lot of other stuff which had ne
place in the trial.
EnfeebIed Mother on stand
The elder Mrs. Thaw, pale and veal
4 from her recent illness, was assisted
I to the witness chair, and repeated I;
large part of the testimony she CAV,
,ia year ago. Her appearance and th
i sincerity of her evidence, as she toll
4 Of her sons strange conduct after
meeting Evelyn Nesbit and hearins
her story, had a marked effect upoi
'|all who listened. On account Of he
'Iweak condition her examination wa
interrupted by consent. to be resume,
:! some time next week, when she will
;ltell OF Thaw's infancy. District At
4 torney Jerome's manner, while TIL
mother was on the stand. was al
/ which led to the respite.
But when the young wife took TIL
stand the change was marked. Jerom
= SIdlCO dLt Jlci 4lOlil Tic very an
. HIS objections were fairly shouted i
: her ears. Well accustomed to cour
9 usage from her former experience, tn
: young woman waited patiently fotr
= ruling as to each objection. When the
: were sustained she was silent; whe
j dloverruled she was ever ready with he
d lErcsponse.
!, Was Always Irrational.
e Effective testimony was given a
: the morning session by Miss Alice
9 Fletcher Of Washington, D. c.. long
! time friend of the Thaws ana fre
fIquent visitor at their home.
She said she had known Harry Tha
for twenty-six years and he had !,
ways impressed her as Irrational Mi!
Catherine C'Ne,ll. who nursed Thaw
a boy from his third to his tentn yea
t addec her evidence to that nlreaC
ndduced rs to irrational conduct al
Il tendencies on the part OF the dofcn,
s ant. Two doormen at tile police st,
e ton. where Th;iw was confinel Il
= night. Of tho tragedy, repeated tho
6 stories OF last year Of Thaw's irr;
J. (Continued on Third Pagu.) 6
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