The San Francisco call., 1909-07-29
THAW 0VTWITS JEROME
IN VERBAL CROSSFIRE
Stanford Whites Slayer Battles tx. Prove
Fitness for Freedom

fNIlA Il<AAAN-y ~ - July
Harry K. Thaw's fate lay in is own
hands today. For six hours he occu-
pied the witness stand while District
Attorney Jerome, who twice tried to
convict him of murder, and who once
already has thwarted an effort to re-
lease him from a criminal insane asy
lum, delved into his life history. Thaw
emerged creditably from the ordeal.
Whatever Jerome and his alienists may
make of the examination, to the eye
and ear of the layman Stanford White S
slayer showed no signs of insanity to-
day.
Tonight Thaw, the members of his
family and his attorneys and experts
were unanimous in their opinion that
he has proved his fitness to be at large
But Thaws ordeal is not over. He
viii remain the witness stand to-
morrow and perhaps a day longer. The
states alienists believe if he is insane
he will be more likely to betray him.
self toward the end and when wearied
by Jerome's continued hammering.
DISPLAY GOOD NATURE
Neither Thaw nor the district attor-
ney displayed anything but the utmost
good nature Frequently the dialogue
resembled the chat of friends Some
times Thaw thought he had scored q
point and smiled with the keenest en-.
joyment. The smile was always re-
1ected on the face of his white haired
mother, who sat in court throughout
the day with the other members of the
Thaw family. Jerome stroVe to estab,
lish Thaw's insanity mainly on Thaw's
alleged hallucinations regarding Stan.
ford Whites treatment of young girls
Time and again he asked the witnes:
his opinion of his mental state
Thaw's replies in substance were:
Il have always been sane, medically
When L killed White / may have beer
! legally insane for a few minutes.
am sane now"
Thaw explained the evidence of hil
alienists at the trial by saying that il
declaring him insane they had beer
misled. They We're told, he said, tha
/ the charges he made against White
were untrue and they inferred that th'
charges must be delusions.
Questions that made the witness kni
his brows had to do with his relation.
with Evelyn Nesbit before their mar
riage. He declared, however that hi
had treated the girl well on theii
European trip and had repeatedly
asked her to marry him.
SENSATIONAL STATEMENT
Thaw's first statement on taking
the stand created a sensation in the
courtroom.
Il believe" he said, that in acauit
ting me the jury was largely influenced
by the belief that Stanford White de
served his fate.
Another reason / was acquitted" h.
/ continued I hp1fatrp IA.
attorneys on both sides told the jur,
that my act was caused by certain de
/ lusions."
Did you ever take lessons of hyp
notist?"
They could hardly be called les
sons said Thaw. smiling.
Did you ever think that Stanford
White exerted hypnotic influence over
Miss Evelyn Nesbit?"
From her remarks 7 thought such
a thing possible. At least lie certainly
had very strong influence over her.
Speaking of Anthony Comstock,
Thaw said. half apologetically, since
my arrest l am afraid 1 haven't had any
interest in his work"
Jerome examined Thaw at length or
/ the testimony given at the tria! re
garding Thaw's alleged hallucinatior
that a number of little girls were
| locked up in the Jail where he wa.
confined when first arrested
That's rubbish" said Thaw.
Up to this point Thaw had acquitted
/ himself well, and hfs lawyers, alien
1 lists and relatives exchanged glance.
] Of congratulat ation.
Did your wife reproach you fol
/ lashing these women regarding whom
Mrs. Merrill testified, and say she coulC
get a divorce on that ground? Anc
did you tell her that she could not?'
asked Jerome.
NO"
Are you willing that we should cal
her here as a witness against you?"
Thaw hesitated, and his attorney in
| terposed an objection, declaring that h
insisted upon the privilege of the do
mestic relation under which he KEEP
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw off the stand.
Thaw agreed with the view of hi
/ attorney.
why don't you let her APPEAR"
Because" retorted Thaw, i've seel
a good many sorts of witnesses you'v,
brought here"
ALWAYS SANE MEDICALLY
Jerome questioned him about his lif
at Matteawan.
The witness said he was in ware
/ with 81 Iunatics.