Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-16
With Apparent Reluctance, Former
Chorus Girl Gives Damaging
Testimony Against Husband.
INTERVIEW REVEALS HER MOTIVE.
She Says Family Did Not do the Right
Thing" BY Her, or She Would Not
Have Testifed-Anthony Comstock
and others Swear They Believe
Prisoner is Sane.
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
WHITE PLAINS. y. Y, July Ia
Harry X Thaw's wife. formerly the
chorus girl Evelyn Nesbit. went on
the stand here today and gave damag-
ing testimony against him. II was the
strongest point scored so far by the
State in it's fight to keep Thaw IN
the asylum fer the criminal insane
at Natteawan When todays session
was concluded. adjournment was tax
en- until July %.
For three days the state hiss been
trying to bring cut that Thsw threat
ened his wifes life on one OF her
visits TO Matteawan. as tending To
show mis- irrationality. Blocked AT iirst
ty objections sustained by the court,
Thaw's attorney at last failed to show
that the alleged conversation at Mat
teawan was confidential. as being be-
tween man and wife. and when she'
took the witness stand today her lips
unsealed.
She related in so far "haw's alleg-
ed threat to take her life ii he were
released from the asylum Whether
assumed OF not. Sne eNpItSStu dppic-
tension while testifying
Apparently Didn't Want to Tell.
She was quoted afterwards as say
, ing that she testified because of the
treatment she received at the hands
OF Thaw's family. but on the stand
she apparently struggled hard, not 10
tell and when compelled to do so by
, the court she obeyed. reluctantly and
tearfully.
Did Harry X Thaw threaten TO
take your life?" she was asked direct
~ by Deputy Attorney General Clarke.
The court room was hushed and
Evelyn Thaw turned appealingly to
Justice Mills. She begged to be al
! lowed not to answer because she said
she knew she would incur his ever
lasting luminosity.
But the court ruled that the only
possible ground on which she could
decline to answer was that It might in
crimnate her and he added he did
net see how that would be applicable
TO her situation. Then Evelyn Thaw
answered the question.
Eyes, He Did"
Yes, he did" she said In a low
voice.
what were his exact words?" de-
manded Nh Clarke.
He said. When get out of here
suppose | will have to kill you"
Why did he say that?"
I'VE were discussing his mental
condition. I had asked him what he
meant and he said: You know was
not crazy On the night that shot
White asked him again. and he
said, You know that | missed White
by two minutes on the day before"
Thaw when asked about his wife's tes-
timoDy after court. said ne was not
surprised at her attitude. but denied
that he ever threatened her life.
1T is vefy plain 10 every one that
her story Is not true he said. Il
never threatened TO kill her. First she
says one thing and then another
1T is true that you made an at
tempt on Whites life before the homi-
eide was committed7'' he was asked
If ! had you would have learned il
before this replied Thaw
Evelyn Thaw. while on the stand
gave a familiar Thaw trial touch to
the proceedings. as did the testimony
VI NtAtATs AAukAlIL OAL MU-dNOTI Qft-
tails concerning Stanford White.
DR.. Adolph Meyer. Of the New York
State Lunacy Commission testified
that he talked with Thzw about the
reasons which led him 10 shoot Stan
ford White. and tnat Thsw principal
" alleged the debauching OF young
girls. which Thaw said was carried
on In Whites various reGdezyOux.
corstock Believes Him Sane.
Anthony Ccmstock. president Of the
New York Society for the Prevention
II Vice. described mis- efforts to assist
Thaw 10 get sufficient evidence ~
Whites practices 10 prosecute him
criminsliy. he was q the opinion
that Thaw was sane
Oth-- Witnesses told q their expert
ence WITH Thaw when he appeared
sane.
The 'on- tournament was taken
50 that both sides may have the op-
f'ortunity 81 studying the records Of
Thaw's two trials for murder
The state experts 20 base much OF
the examination a Thsw on the Wit
ness stand upon these records.
u has been decided % abandon a
physical examination 81 Thaw by the
states alienigts and 20 conhne the tn.