The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-28

er as he strobe proudly to the stand.
Then he settled back in the witness
chair and in a low. but steady voice
began his duel with District Attorney
Jerome. His very first statement
made a sensation in the court ~oon1-
u believe he said, that in ac-
quitting me the jury was largely m
fuenced by the belief that Stanford
White deserved his fate.
''The reason L was acquitted, ne
continued was, 1 believe, because
the attorneys on both sides told the
Jury that my act was caused by Ger
tain delusions-'
Then District Attorney Jerome pe-
gan:
you are a gentleman and an edu-
Gated man" lie asked.
The witness nodded.
you believe that gentleman
should defend his honor?
Yes.
And If you committed an act in
the defense of your honor would YOU
consider yourself justified in commit
ting perjury to escape the cohse-
quences of your act?'
head.
Turns to HypnOtism.
The district attorney abandoned
this attack and spoke of hypnOtism.
Did you ever take lessons OF
'"They could hardly be called les
sons" said Thaw smiling. talked
with one four or five times
Did you ever think that Stanford
White exerted q hypnotic influence
over Miss Evelyn Nesbitt
From her remarks I thought such
A thing possible. At least he certain
ly had a very strong influence over
Speaking of Anthony Comstock.
Thaw said half apologetically:
''Since my arrest 1 am afraid
haven't had any interest IN ms WORK
Jerome examined Thaw at length
on the testimony given at the trial
regarding Thaw's alleged hallucina-
ton that number of little girls were
locked up in Jail, where he was con-
@That's rubbish" said Thaw.
'sThen did you dominated by this
idea of nobIesse oblige, allow Mr.. Lit
tleton. Thaw's attorney, to put this in
evidence"
Il told him not to, but he insisted
on using it"
Up to this point Thaw had acquitted
himself well and his lawyers. alienists
and relatives exchanged glances of
congratulations.
s'Dfd your wife reproach you for
Iashing 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 Mr. Jerome.
NO"
The Merrill Woman's Story.
Mrs. Merrill. lodging house keep |
er. had testified that during three
years 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 of their silence and to keep
them from bothering Thaw's wife or
mother"
One of them, who, she said. passed
as Thaw'S wife, received 1000 The
money came from Thaw-
The mysterious package which was
brought to court yesterday by Cliff
ford W. Hartridge, Thaw's. counsel,
was unwrapped and a pearl handled
whip about three feet long waa
brought into view. With this before
the eyes of court and spectators, the
woman related series of stories |
about finding Thaw on several occa- |
sions Iashing the girls upon their bare
arms and bodies Thaw, she said. |
had posed as a theatrical agent, and |
had 1ured the girls to his rooms with |
promises OF engagements. When she
demonstrated with him, she testified, |
his excuse was that the girls were |
not smart enough and could not fill