The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-07-29
THAW AS A WITNESS
GETS BEST OF JEROME

jury that my act was caused by GER
tain decisions"
Then District Attorney Jerome be-
gan: You are a gentleman and an
educated MANI" he asked.
The witness nodded.
You believe that gentleman
should defend his honoT?"
Yes"
And if you committed an act In
defense of your honor would you con-
sider yourself justified in committing
perjury to escape the consequences
of your act?'
NO" replied Thaw. shaking his
head.
ATTACK ABANDONED.
The district attorney abandoned
this attack and spoke of hypnOtism.
Did you ever take lessons OF a
hyDnotist?"
"They could hardly be called les
sons" said Thaw, smiling. Il talked
with one four or five times"
Did you ever think that Stanford
White exercised a hypnotic influence
over Miss Evelyn Nesbit?"
From her remarks, 1 thought such
thing possible. At least he had a
very strong influence over her.
Speaking of Anthony COmStocK,
TEaw said, aIf-apologetically, since
my arrest 1 am afraid I haven't had
much interest in his work"
Jerome examined Thaw at length
On the testimony at the trial regard
ing Thaw's alleged Authorizations that
a number of little girls were locked
I'D in the Jail where he was confined
WREN first arrested.
That's rubbish" said Thaw.
''Then did you, dominated by this
idea of noblesse oblige, allow Mr..
LittIeton (Thaw's attorney to put
this in evidence?"
4 told him not to, but he insisted
upon using it.
Up TO this point Thaw had acquit-
ted himself well and his lawyers,
alienists and relatives exchanged
chances of congratulations.
Did your wife reprOacn you for
flashing these women regarding whom
Mrs. Merrill testified, and say she
could get a divorce on that ground
And did you tell her that she could
not?" asked Jerome.
Are you willing that we should call
her as a witness against you?"
Thaw hesitated and his attorney
interDosed an objection. declaring
that he insisted upon the privilege o.
the domestic relation, until he could
keep Evelyn Nesbit Thaw on the
stand.
Thaw agreed with the view of his
attorney.
Why don't you let her APPEAR"
Because" retorted Thaw,. I've
seen a good many sorts of witnesses
you've brought here"
Did YOU ever write a letter to
YOUR wife containing an improper
drs wing" asked Jerome.
On objection of Thaw's counsel, the
question was not answered and le-
! gal tilt between counsel ensued re-
| garding Jerome's right to introduce a
letter written by Thaw to his wife
Mr.. MOrschaUser, for Thaw, insist
/ ed that letters between husband
and wife were confidential. Justice
/ Mills postponed his ruling and the
| letter was held up for the present.
Thaw left the stand for a few mo-
mehts at this point to let his side put
on Peter B. Olney, a member Of the
I sanity commission whose report was
presented in 1907.
TESTIMONY RESUMED.
When Thaw resumed Jerome ques-
toned him about his life at Mattea-
van. The witness said he was in z
ward with 81 lunatics.
DO you believe you have Away:
| been sane?"
| 4 have always been sane medical
| ~"
Gould stranger tell in five min
utes' conversation whether or not yOJ
were craZy?"
y es, if he were accustomed to ex-
aiming lunatics."
How about DR.. Evans? He saiC
at your trial that you were afflicted
with decisions"