Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-28
BEAT SOME WITH RIDING WHIP
Witness Paid Out ses,ooo,, She Says,
to Silence Victims During Prisoners
Trial for murder--0r. Evans Tests-
hes That He Now Believes rhsw
is sane.
tBy Associated Press.

WHITE PLAINS. n. f-s juy zt--
Harry X. Thaw sat in the Supreme
Court here today and heard a
womaa's testimony that made his pal
lid face flush. He saw q pearl handled
dog whip exhibited and he heard the
witness swear that she had seen him
WELD 1t on the bare flesh OF Young
girls. The prisoners wife, Evelyn
NesbiftThaw heard much OF the tes-
timcny. which was of such nature
that Justice Mills preceded its presen-A
tation with the warning that mo wom-
an should stay in the court room I'm
less she is willing to hear everything
Two girls let the room.
The witness. Mrs. Susan Merrill. 9
buxom, pink checked woman of about
35 years cpened new chapter in the
life of stanford Whites slayer She
told of alleged acts of his between
1902 and 1906. when he was a young
bachelor in New York before the
tragedy on the Madison Square Roof
Garden that resulted in his being plac-
. ed In the state asylum for the criminal
insane from which he Is now trying TO
escape. Her testimony was in marked
contrast TO that OF two alienists VINO
went on the stand and declared that
in their opinion Thaw was sane.
Brought More Than 400 Girls.
Summarized, her testimony was that
curing the three years named she kept
in succession two New York lodging
houses. where Thaw rented rooms
under assumed names and to which
he brought at various times more than
200 girls After Thaw's imprisonment
she said she paid these women at
least $4,000 as the price O. their
silence, and to keep them from both
cring Thaw's wife or mother
The woman told of finding Thaw on
several occasions lashing the girls on
their bare arms and bodies. Thaw,
she said. had posed as a theatrical
agent and had lured the girls to his
rooms with promises Of engagements
She testified further that Thaw had
frequently behaved in violent man
ner in her presence and that she con-
sIdered his acts irrational
District Attorney Jerome had full
charge OF the case and II was he who
brought out the damaging testimony
Mrs. Merrill's testimony was stopped
when Mr. Jerome animated that It
might injure innocent persons.
witness Charged With Perjury.
Charles Morschauser. counsel for
Thaw. succeeded In bringing out the
fact that Mrs. Merrill had been recent
ly arrested on a charge Of perjury,
after an unsuccessful suit to recover
100000 damages from Il man.
The woman denied that she kept
any CT the money that passed from
Thaw through her hands.
Then why did you stand for al
THIS from Thaw7- asked Mr.. Mors-
chauser
Oh, felt sorry for him. was her
answer. She was instructed 10 70
turn tomorrow with Clifford Hart
ridge. with whom she had arranged
money matters between herself ana
Thaw and who had been subpoez1-
ed
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw slipped quietly
into court during the proceedings
today. but did not testify. Aside from
the Merrill woman's testimony the
aIienists took up the remainder OF the
proceedings and testified IN Thaw's
behalf.
Or. Evans Reverses Opinion
DR.. Britson ID. Evans. Who made
report two years ago declaring ThaU
insane. said TODAY that ne had re-
sersed his opinion.
Harry Thaw himself may take the
stand tomorrow.