Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-29
SLAYER OF WHITE
GIVES READY ANSWER
SAYS HE WAS JusTl.s,. D IN. .klt
ING NEW YORKER BUT rHA l,.s
BELIEVES HE WAS INSANE
WHEN ACT WAS DONE.

| n
K. Thaw took the witness stand to
day for examination in the proceedings
which he has instituted in an effort to
secure his release from the Matteawan
asylum for criminal insane.
Ihaw's first statement made a sen.
sation in the court room.
believe" he said, that in acuuft
ting me. the jury was largely In
fiuenced by the belief that Stanford
White deserved his fate. Another rea,
son was because the attorneys on
both sides told the jury my act was
caused by delusions"
Attorney Jerome examined Thaw
at length on the testimony given al
| the trial regarding Thaw's alleged ltal
iucinatlon that number Of little girls
We're locked UP In Jail where he was
confined when first arrested.
That's rubbish" said Thaw. ~
told Littleton (Thaw's attorney not
to put that in evidence, but he insist
ed on using it, Z ss
Up to this point Thaw had acquitted
himself well. His lawyers, alienists
and relatives exchanged glances of
4 congratulations
The first evidence given by Thaw OF
any excitement was when Jerome
probed further into the events leading
up to the shooting of White and aues.
toned him regarding his early rela.
ton with Evelyn Nesbit Thaw meas.
4 ured his words carefully with an eyi.
dent desire to present this part or his
career In the best possible light. All
this moment Evelyn Nesbit Thaw
came In and slid into seat among tha
witnesses. IL Jerome had planned her
appearance to confuse the witness be
could not have brought her In at
more telling juncture.
Witness and Jerome Mix.
Did your wife reproach you for
lashing these women regarding whom
Mrs. Merrill testified, and say sha
/ could get divorce on that ground,
and did you tell her that she could
not?" asked Jerome.
mo-" was Thaw's answer.
Are you willing we should call her
here as a witness against your"
Thaw hesitated and his attorney In.
4 terposed an objection, declaring that
he insisted upon the privilege of do.
mestic relation urder which he could
. keep Evelyn Thaw off the stand.
Thaw agreed with the view OF his at.
torney.
why don't you let her appear?"
Because I've seen good many
sorts of witnesses you've brought
here"
did you ever write a letter to your
wife containing an improper draw.
ing?"
On the objection of Thaw's counsel
the question was not answered, and
after legal tilt between counsel re.
. garding Jerome's right to Introduce
the letter written by Thaw to his wife,
Justice Mills postponed his ruling.
The letter was not presented. Jerome
then questioned Thaw about his life
at Matteawan and the witness said hs
was in ward with fifty-seysn luna
tics.
do you believe you have always
. been sane?"
Il have always been sane medical
. ly."
4 How about DR.. Evans. He said at
: your trial that you were afflicted with
: delusions?"
; Evans was misled. He was told by.
: Jerome and those connected with his
: Office that everything said was I'M
; true"
Killed White Because of Wrong.
VHle fallOIhcy JGTOIIlS AuQrebS6Q
the court on a legal point Thaw calmly
!. polished his big spectacles and he di-
. rected a triumphant smile at his coun-
sell Both seemed well satisfied.
Jerome asked Thaw why he did not
permit DR.. Allen McLane Hamilton to
examine him at the time he was re-
. tanned by his attorneys.
II did not like his looks"
, Were you ever insane?"
. II may have been at one time for a
few minutes"
Were you crazy when you killed
White?"
Il think was legally crazy but
may be mistaken
r did you have a feeling of bitter
personal enmity toward him or did
you think he the kind of creature
every decent man was justified in put
$ ting out of the way?'
There is no such thing as man
: that every decent man should put ou.
of the way"
When asked again why he killed
i White, Thaw replied: Really do naa
u JknoW.'