Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
She SAYS THAW
WHIPPED GIRLS
Lodging House Keeper Glves
Sensational Testimony.
WHIP EXHIBITED IN COURT

Mrs. Susan Merrill Declares Thaw
Lured More Than zoo Girls to His
Room and Lsshsd Their Bare Bodies.
Says Ne Paid Them $4,000 "to
Keep Them From 5Otherins His
Wife and Mother"
White Plains, y. Y. July 2s.-Harry
K. Thaw sat in the supreme court here
and heard a woman's testimony that
made his pallid face flush. He saw a
pearthandled dog whip exhibited. and
he heard the witness swear that she
had seen him WELD IL on the bare
flesh OF young girls. The prisoners
wife. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw. heard most
OF the testimony. which was OF such a
nature that Justice Mills preceded its
presentation with the warning that
no woman should stay in the court
room unless she is willing to hear
everything
The witness was Mrs. Susan Mer-
rill. buXOm. pink-cheeked woman OF
about thirty-hve years. and she opened
new chapter In the life Of Stanford
Whites slayer. She told Of alleged
acts OF his between 1902 and 1905.
when he was young bachelor about
New York before the tragedy on the
Madison Square Roof Garden that re.
suited in his being placed IL the state
asylum for the criminal insane. from
which ne is now trying 20 escape by
proving himself sane
PAID Girls SIS.
Her testimony was i'm marked con
trast TO that of swO alienists who went
on the stand and gave Thaw a clean
Dill Of health declaring that IN their
opinion he was sane Summarized. her
testimony was that during the three
years named she kept I'm succession
two New York lodging houses. where
Thaw rented rooms under assumed
names ant % which he brought az
various times more than 200 girls AZ.
ter Thaw's Imprisonment. she said
she paid these women at least So. 1000
as the price Of their silence and "to
keep them from bothering Thaw's wife
or his mother" one or them. who.
she said passed as ThRw's wife. re-
ceived $1,000 The money came from
Harry Thaw
Says He Lured Girls 20 His Room.
After telling ~ Thaw's engaging the
rooms The bearing Of the evidence
upon the question OF the prisoners
mental condition became apparent.
For at this point the mysterious pack.
age which vas brought 10 court by
Clifford " Partridge. Thaw's former
counsel Vas unwrapped and a pearl
handled whip. about three feet long.
vas brought into view With this be
fore the eyes of the court and specta-
tors. the woman related a series OF
stories about finding Thaw on several
occasions lashing the girls upon their
bare arms and bodies. Thaw. she said
had posed as a theatrical agent and
had lured the girls 20 his rooms with
promises OF engagements. When she
demonstrated with him. she testified
his excuse was that the girls weren't
smart enough and couldn't hu their
positions and deserved beating" She
testified further that Thaw had fire.
quently behaved in a violent manner
in her presence and that she cOnsid.
cred his acts irrational
Thaw's Lawyer Attacks Witness.
District Attorney Jerome had full
charge Of the case, and IL was he who
/ brought out the damaging testimony
Mrs Merrills testimony was stopped
when Mr. Jerome intimated that II
might injure innocent persons. Under
crOss-examination by Charles Mors
chauser. counsel for Thaw. the witness
was attacked fiercely. He succeeded in
bringing out the fact that she had
/ been recently arrested on a charge o.
I perjury after an unsuccessful suit %
recover 500 600 from a man.
The woman emphatically denied
/ that she kept any OF the money that
passed from Thaw through her hands
Then whv did you stand for all this
from Mr. Thaw?" asked Mr.. Mors
chauser
| ooh. felt sorry Cor him" was her
answer
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw slipped quietly
into court during the proceedings. but
did not testify. She smiled at ThaW
several times. but he paid no atten
| ton to her