The San Francisco call., 1909-07-30
THAW UNRUFFLED BY
JEROME'S INQUISITI0N
Prosecutor Finishes Grueling Examination
and Slayer Leaves Stand Smiling

WHITE PLAINS, n. Y, July 20
District Attorney Jerome prosecutor
of both Thaw murder trials, finished
his inquisition of Harry X. Thaw this
evening in the supreme court hearing
of Thaw's application for release from
Matteswan.
All told, yesterday and today, Harry
Thaw faced Jerome's lightning thrusts
for 10 hours. yet he held his own at all
times and tomorrow he viii be in the
hands of friends. His attorney, Charles
Morschauser. expects to call him in the
morning. This examination may be as
long as Jerome's, and after IL the dis
trict attorney may have few more
questions to ask.
Notwithstanding the mental strain
Of his examination, Thaw labored late
tonight with his attorney in Justice
Mills anteroom, going over the eXhlo-
its used by Jerome in his rapid fire Of
cross questions.
PAPERS FOUND IN CELL
These consisted of various papers
containing notes and drawings found
in Thaws cell in the Tombs after he
was sent to Matteawan.
What use Jerome will make of them
viii develop later. But their appear
ance seems to bother the Thaws some
what. and after court adjourned Mrs.
William c. Thaw. the prisoners moth
er, gave out an interview in winch she
said the production of these papers by
the state proved the charges she made
in a printed pamphlet, that her son had
been hurried away to the asylum with
out being allowed TO get his clothes OF
other effects in his cell
On the whole however, Thaw and his
attorney are well satisfied with today
work.
HARTRIDGE Is QUESTIONED
Thaw-s examination was delayed a
few moments while his attorney called
Clifford W. Hartridge, Thaw's former
counsel. 1t was from Hartridge that
Susan Merrill said she received $4,000
to be paid TO women alleged to have
been abused by Thaw in her New York
lodging houses. The money. she tes-
tilted. came from the Thaw family.
Thaw's attorney brought out the fact
that Hartridge was suing Mrs. William
Thaw for a balance claimed for his
legal services which he alleges con-
sisted largely in suppressing revela-
tfons damaging TO Thaw and his
family.
Susan Merrill was in court again
today.
Yesterday Jerome devoted himself to
the prisoners life history. Today he
based his questions chiefly on the va
rious documents. letters and memo
randa. which he produced in surprising
numbers. The one he found most use
full was a tablet containing 26 sheets
of foolscap paper on which were pasted
a strange variety of newspaper clip
pings and scraps of manuscript. Thaw
identified ii as something he had pre-
pared and sent to Dolphin NJ Delmas
his chief counsel during the first trial.
for use in preparing his closing speech
TO the jury. Some of its contents were
strange enough to cause suspicious of
the authors sanity, but Thaw invaria-
bly, explained by saying they were let
ters written to him and his family by
persons whose kind intentions probably
were better than their mental balance
Lots of it was rubbish" he added,
but some of the letters contained
ideas 1 thought Mr.. Delmas might
use"
Hartridge said he received a mys-
terious telegram from Thaw addressed
to Roger O'Mara. former chief of de-
tectives of Pittsburg, directing him to
get three tin boxes kept by certain
Miss Bell" in the Highlands" eX-
change in that city.
Let nobody else have them" said
the message to O'Mara. Another mes
sage contained in this telegram told
Miss Bell" TO deliver the boxes to
OMara, and cautioned her also to let
nobody have them"
Were you ever sent to anybody by
Thaw to get a whip?" asked Jerome.
No" said Hartridge.
SUIT INVOLVES $4,000
On cross examination Morschauser
reverted to Hartridge's suit against
Mrs. William c. Thaw. 1T involves
about S93, 900 now remarked the wit
ness, but it may involve more
Hartridge admitted that he had