Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-29

from Matteawan asylum. Then he set
tied back in the witness chair and in
low but steady voice began his duel will
District Attorney Jerome. His very frs
statement made a sensation in TIL
breathlesS courtroom
II believe" he said, that in acquit
by the belief that Stanwood White de
served his fate
another reason ! was acquitted" HI
continued, was, i believe, because tn,
attorneys on both sides told the jury tina
my act was caused by certain decisions.
Then Jerome took up the doctrine Of
''noblesse oblige.'
You are a gentleman and an educat
ed MANI" he was asked.
The witness nodded.
You believe that gentleman SHOULD
defend his honor?"
Yes"
And if you committed an act in the
defence of your honor would you con-
slider yourself justified in committing per-
jury to escape the consequences of your
act?"
NO" replied Thaw, shaking his head.
tack and spoke of hypnotism.
Did you ever take lessons of a hyp-
notist named Ferriss?''
They could hardly be called les
sons, said 'rhaw, smiling Il talked
with him four or five tines
Did you ever think that Stamford
White eXerted a hypnotic influence
over Miss Evelyn Nesbit"'
From her remarks l thought such a
thing POSSIBLE; at least he certainly
had a very strong influence over her.
Speaking of Anthony Comstock
Thaw said half alphabetically: 'rSince
interest in his work" s...-.-..-
Jerome examined Thaw at length OF
the testimony given at the trial re
garding Thaw's alleged hallucinatioi
that number of little girls were lock
ed no in the Jail where he was confined
when first arrested.
That's rubbish" said Thaw.
''Then did you. dominated by thi
idea of nobienesS oblise, allow Mr.. Lit
Teton (Thaw's attorney, to put thf.
III evidence?'
Il told him not to. but he insisted
on using it,
Up to this point Thaw had acquitted
himself we'll and his lawyers, alienist:
and relatives exchanged glances o
congratulation.
did your wife reproach you fol
.ashing those women regarding whom
Mrs, Merrill testified, and say she coult
get divorce on that ground? And did
you tell her that she could not" aske
Jerome.
No"
Are you willing that we should cal
her here as witness against you?"
Thaw hcsitated and his attorney in
terposed an objection, declaring tina
he insisted upon the privilege of do
nestle relations under which he coult
keep Evelyn Nesbit Thaw off the stand
TEaw agreed with the view of hi
attorney.
why don't you let her appear?"
because" retorted Thaw, I've seeI
a good many sorts of witnesses you'v
brought here"
Did you ever write letter to yOu
wife containing an improper drawing2
asked Mr.. Jerome.
On objection of Thaw's counsel thu
question was not answered and lega
tilt between counsel ensued regardin,
Mr.. Jeromes right to introduce a let
ter written by Thaw to his wife. MI
Morschauser for Thaw insisted that let
ters between a husband and wife wer
sacred and confidential Justice Mill
postponed his ruling and the letter wa:
held up for the present
Thaw left the stand for a few mo
n,ents at this point to let his side pu,
on Peter b. Olney, a New York attor-
ney. who was a member of the frs
sanity commission, whose report was
presented in April. 1907. The othe,
members of the commission were At
torney David Mcclure and DR.. Leopold
Putzel. The witness identified the re
port.
When Thaw resumed Jerome ques
toned him about his life at Matteawan
The witness said he was in a ward will
81 lunatics.
do you believe you have always
been sane?"
81 have always been sane medically
could a stranger tell in five min
utes conversation whether or not yol
were crazy"
eyes. if he were accustomed to ex
anime lunatics." t
DR.. Baker and DR.. Lamb, who ex
amined him at Matteawan. said Thay
told them he had no trace of paranoi
and never had been subject to delu
sions. ,--1ss.f 81
How about DR.. Evans? He said a
your trial that you were afflicted wit
delusions?"
"Dr. Evans" replied Thaw, after
little thought, twas misled. He wa
told by Mr.. jerome and those connect
ed with his Office that everything
said was untrue"
While jerome addressed the couI
on legal point, Thaw calmly polishe