The San Francisco call., 1909-08-08
jerome Says She Fa!sifed In
tentiOnaIIy; Husbands Law
yer Charges Insincerity
Decision as TO Insanity of
Whites Slayer % Be Handed
Down Thursday

his attorney, Charles NIorschauser.
summed up his case District Attorney
Jerome preceded Morschauser this
morning Justice Isaac n. Mills said
he would try to hand down decision
Thursday
The prisoners mother. with her
daughter Alice. formerly the countess
of Yarmouth. and her son and daugh-
ter in law, Mr.. and Mrs Josiah Thaw,
viii remain here until Thaw's fate is
settled. Mrs. Thaws statements show
that II this case goes against her son
she viii lose no time in trying to free
him by other means
Mrs. Thaw emphasized her opinion of
jerome and his efforts by reading a
magazine straight through his argu-
ment When her sons attorney began
she laid the pamphlet aside and lis
tened intently.
THAW'S FACE DETERMINED
Thaw's chair touched Jerome's, and
be set his features with evident de-
termination 10 show no fear under the
strain which he believed coming.
Jerome began with saying that JUS
tce Mills must be perfectly familiar
with the case. Speaking Of the credi-
bility OF the witnesses he said he be-
lieved all did their best to tell the
truth, except Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw
i DO think" he declared, that this
slrl was deliberately and Intentionally
classifying. That she told her husband
the story Of the injury at the hands of
Stanford White I have no doubt"
Jerome then passed directly to the
question Of Thaw's sanity. He ac-
knowledged that modern science did
not attach extreme Importance to the
influence Of heredity in disease: never
theless. he declared, this influence must
be considered in assessing the defend
ants mentai condition.
JEROME SCORES FAMILY
Let me point out now that the whole
Thaw family developed what might be
called peculiarly From such a stock
the average man of the world would
say without any assistance from alien
lists. Wen you would get a pretty
rickety sort Of a child out of that
family"
Susie MerrilTs story Of receiving
large sums Of money from Thaws at
torneys and Of his living a her house
with various women, the district attor- |
ner said, was unrefuted.
Thaws love Of the dramatic was
pointed out by Jerome as strong
Characteristic Of his alleged mania.
Referring to Mrs. Thaw's attack on
him in the Secret Unveiled Jerome
said.
we see in this pamphlet the same
color that runs through the sons be-
haFior 1t seems TO me that il would
not be safe TO turn this man loose un-
Ul there has been ample opportunity
To submit him TO medical examination
trcm day 10 day for a long period
Jerome nnlshed his summing uD at
ll-55. the court having offered an OBJ
lection 10 the length Of his speech.
THAN-S COURSE DEFENDED
Attorney Morschauser. for Thaw he
San by urging the court to consider
only the evidence produced in the pres
ent proceedings and TO disregard Thaw,s
condition prior to. during or lust after
tile homicide. He dwelt on the testi-
mony Of his own alienists and attacked
u at Of the opposing alfenists esne
cially Doctor Bakers Incidents of
Thaw's early life were grossly exag-
gerated at the trials. he said, to show
insanity A similar result might be
achieved by the boyhood pranks of any
man.
Morschauser declared although the
defendants life was raked with Incl
dents to prove his insanity at the
trials there was a period of IA years
during which no erratic acts were in
evidence.
LAWYER AND MOTHER WEEP
Referring to Evelyn Thaw's alleged
misconduct with White, Morschauser
said
With this before him every day and
every night, Thaw started ont 10
wreak his vengeance on Stanford
White and sought to break up his den
and destroy forever that power to
wreck and ruin the lives Of Young
girls. Thaw appealed to District At
torney Jerome. The district attorney
admitted the existence of such places
and if he had used the energy in root
ing them out that he has in bounding
this young man the crime would never
have been committed"
He said that the reluctance EVELYN
ThaW expressed to testify Of Thaw's
alleged threat to shoot her was as
sUmed.
Both Mrs. Thaw and the attorney
were in tears when the latter finished
with these words:
within the madhouse, within the
den Of degenerates, surrounded by
criminals Of the lowest order-you put
him back and if he is not madman
he certainly viii be, and at the same
time you viii crush out the heart of
the most loyal Of mothers that ever
lived
Thaw listened intently to his coun-
sei's arguments and several times
passed him notes which Morschauser
used.
ATTACK on STATE ALIENISTS
Thaw's mother made public a state
ment today in which she compared the
testimony given by Thaw's alienists to
the evidence given by District Attorney
Jerome's alienists. Mrs. Thaw said in
part:
Mr. Jerome speaks of IA alienists.
There are bat four that he dares place
on the witness stand to swear that my
son has or ever has had any incura bic
mental trouble and has no religious
feeling about their Oaths that | know
Of OF the ] he claims seven have since
sworn that my son Is sane. and except
Doctors Evans and Wagner. TO their
I.r,s. gwo visits all of them-Doctors
Evans Wagner Ora eme, Hammond
Ieiine Pilgrim and Gregory-have
e---s- they never saw any sign of in
sanity in all their personal examina-
zion Of him. IT is not necessary for me
10 express my opinion Of Jerome. 1
simply name the alienlsts who would.
20 on the stand and swear as he
wishes They are Doctors Hirsch /
Pritcherd. Flint and Macdonald
letter from Mrs. Thaw was pro-
duced today BY Attorney Hartridge.