New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-06
MRS. THAW A WITNESS
BREAKS DOWN ON STAND
TESTIFYING FOR son.
Ihd1c and CarUalhO Reiterate Their
Belief in alleged Practices of
Stanford WMte.

long discussion the topic of Stanford
! whites associations with young women of the
stage was interrupted long enough yesterday
afternoon to allow Thaw's mother 10 take the
stand az White Plains TO plead for her son. The
discussion was introduced with the plain pur-
pose of showing that Thaw was not suffering
/ from delusion when lac killed White in the be-
/ lief that the architect was a human monster
! that he is suffering from deIusiOn now I'm
! clinging TO this belief. and that therefore ne
cannon be a paTanoiac'
Thaws mother took the stand at her own ini-
tiative and suggestion. She wished to refute
the stories about her sons alleged eccentricities
and wiG life and to dispel the idea that Thaw
is still afflicted with exaggerated ego" Mrs.
/ Thaw broke down and wept several times, ard
after she had finished her testimony she had 70
be assisted from the stand by her son. Josiah
Thaw.
I ONLY once in the course of her narrative did
District Attorney Jerome venture interpose.
When she had recovered her compOsure she
burst forth passionately with the exclamation,
"T think Mr. Jerome has been trying 20 subject
my TO every possible torture he can"
Thereafter Mr.. Jerome made no attempt TO
interfere with her recital she told OF the
treatment that had been accorded Thaw at Mat
teawan.
NANIS IL tORtIE1
"The Secret Unveiled" the pamphlet in which
she referred 10 Jerome the malevolent per-
sonaty," Mrs Thaw said she wished TO forget
in it's entirety, Beyond being asked whether she
had published it, the only question put TO her on
the subject by Mr.. Morschauser was as 10 her
statement in the preface that her son had been
pursued by "a cowardly combination of black
mailers." That. she declared. truthful
expression
Taking up the topic Of Thaw's many changes
OF counsel. which IL Is contended by the state is
proof that Thaw is afflicted with exaggerated
ego" Mrs Thaw declared In a firm voice that
she had never engaged any counsel alienists
for her son That Thaw did himself. she said.
The Thaw version OF the dismissal OF Clifford
W. Hartridge. who is now suing Mrs Thaw for
$4,000 explained by Mrs. Thaw. who said
that Hartridge pretended II he did not have
more money that he would lose valuable wit
nesses
I think you ought to go back further Mr.
Morschauser." said Mrs. Thaw. who herself had
suggested the questions that should be put to
her mfr Delmas was engaged by my son only
for the examination OF Witnesses and summing
IN NV son arranged sor Mr. Delmas TO do all
that part Of the work for $4,000 lie received
$4,000 Mr. Hartridge came 20 and said
that Mr.. Delmas would give up the case " we
didn't double his fee. and ! decided TO do so
rather than have any trouble about H."
KNEW LAWYERS WERE oUARRELLING.
She knew. she said that there quarrelling
among the lawyers. she could feel It in tho air.
Didn't your son say he would have TO get rid
Of all or them" said Mr.. Morschauser. because
there was so much quarretling?"
We'll. l fancy lawyers don; often resign.
she answered.
.Nor alienists. either. Mr. Morschauser." said
Mr. Jerome. with laugh.
( In 10 this point Mrs Thaw had shown her
self composed and al ease. though IL the
first time she had taken the witness stand for
her son since his first trial. two years ago.
/ The match 10 the store ~ pent-u feeling which
she had so far been successful in concealing
set bv Mr Morschauser. when he asked Mrs.
/ Thaw II she had not made affidavit before
the Iunacy Commission which declared Thaw
sane She hesitated a moment and asked II she
might be permitted to tell about 1t. Then with
l-repressed emotion. she said:
II read in the papers hat afternoon the most
horrible things. especially by Dr. Macdonald
and Dr Hamilton
She could go no further For few moments
she faltered. tried hard 20 speak. and then put
M her fan 10 hide the tears she knew were
ing Harry Thaw sprang from his place be-
tween District Attorney jerome and Mr.. Nor
schauser ran behind the jury box toward the
stand and was about 10 offer his mother assist
ance of some kind when she recovered herself
and continued, while he stood anxiously few
feet away:
II asked Mr. Hartridge II ! couldn't make
af1davit for these horrible things had nothing
to do with Harry at all, but with heredity."
TELLS STORY OF SONS LIFE
Then taking up the story of Harry Thaws
life she related briefly its events from his birth.
IN 1871 until the time ne returned home TO Pitts
hurg from Wooster University at Christmas,
1856 The remembrance Of the alleged causes
Of her sons dismissal from that institution
! seemed 10 be too much for her and she broke
( into violent weeping. Harry Thaw rushed for
I ward and put his arm around his mother trying
70 soothe her and saying To Mr.. Morschauser.
| ',Wait until tomorrow.
Having once undertaken the task of doing
| what she could To get her son out of Matteawan.
! Ms Thav again recovered herself and went
! ,r with the recital of Harry Thaw's life OF
I Harvard her hurried return from Europe after
/ the shooting of White and her devotion To set
| ting him free since that time. Incidentally she
made known the fact that the shooting might
/ re,,er have occurred if Thaw had been success
! f,l in his efforts to get accommodations on the
-, on which she sailed the Saturday preced
ing H. ~
- said he accepted every condition inn
,,oeed without protest except those as 10 his
- - retiring and as to his 1T was
marvellous 10 me- she Sa'"' "0S' "e "'eep'eN
those conditions
| o., nor Indignation at the treatment that had
| ,.oorded Thaw at Matteawan was evident
| - courtroom absorbed in her story as she
:" r.x-,, had been peremptory shifted