Rock Island Argus., 1909-08-07
Jerome Raps Hard at
Prisoners Wife and
Family.
LATTER ALL "RICKETY"
Morschauser Appeals to Court
to Overlook Harry's Early
Career.

White Plans, Aug. THE closing
arguments were heard by Supreme
Court Justice Mills today in the appli-
cation of Harry X. ,Thaw for release
from the Matteawan insane asylum.
Each side was confined to an hour,
and both said they did not need as
much time as this.
Thaw Traces for Ordeal.
Mrs. Josiah Thaw, the prisoners
sister-in-law, was the only member
of the family not present when court
convened. Thaw looked even paler
than usual His chair touched Jer
ONES and he set his features with an
evident determination to show no en-
otion under the storm he expected
to descend upon his head
Attacks Evelyn Thaw.
Jerome began with saying the JUS
tice must be perfectly familiar with
the case, and therefore he would not
attempt to go over the evidence in
detail, speaking of the credibility of
witnesses and their bearing under
cross examination, he said he believ
ed all did their best to tell the truth
except Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw. 81
do think" he declared, this girl was
deliberately and Intentionally falsify7
ing That she told her husband the
story of her injury at the hands of
White l have no doubt
Family All ..Rickcty."
Jerome then passed directly to the
question of Thaw's sanity. He sum
med up Thaw's family history with
the dgcfaration that when members
broke "he or she broke i'll their weak
spot, the mind" Under the strain
they developed imbecility or epilepsy
LET me point out now that the whole
Than wamily manifested what might
be called popularity. From such stock
the average man of the world would
say without any assistance from alien
lists, Well, you would get a pretty
rickety sort of child out of that fam
ily.'"
Susie Merrills story of receiving
large sums of money from Thaw'S at
torney, and his living at her house
with various women, the district at
torney said was unrefuted.
Tells of Wild Acts.
Here Jerome laid down his notes and
recited from memory various wild acts
of the prisoner testified to at the for
mer trials, which acts he said were
evidences of a diseased mind. While
Jerome spoke, Mrs Thaw read mag
aZine. Thaw's love of the dramatic
was pointed out by Jerome as strong
characteristic of his alleged mania. 1t
received it's strongest illustration in
the shooting of White, said jerome.
The district attorney declared he plac-
ed little reliance on the testimony of
DIR. Evans, Thaw's chief alienist, and
asked the court to disregard it.
Something Plainly Wrong.
'If a person had come in here from
Mars" continued the prosecutor, ''and
seen Thaw on the stand, he would
have realized something was the mat
ter with him. 1t was unwholesome II
was uncanny. l call your attention to
of sound mind would have said, Yes
/ killed him; but he did great wrong
to the woman loved. hated him. II
was wrong, | know"
Began to Take Notice.
Jerome'S voice rose for the first
time. Mrs Thaw laid down the maga
zine, and she and Thaw and his coun
sci held whispered conference. Jer
ONE went Oil:
''The situation is about this: Here
is a man whom heredity has proven
to be bad; man whose childhood was
that of the nervous sort. We find hin
marrying this girl. There was nothing
after marriage to excite his jealousy