The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-06
Detective O'Mara Called to Tes-
tify in Thaw Case
Says He Is There Because of
Love for the Prisoner.
MRS. THAW RECALLED
Says She Was Deceived by DR..
Allan McLane Hamilton.
Witness Gives Way to Tears
During Her Recital.

White Plains. N. Y. Aug. 6.-Roger
O'Mara, the Thaw detective. com
missioned to investigate charges .
against Stanford White, took the.i
stand at the opening of Harry X. /
Thaw's hearing for release from
Matteawan today.
The witness related his experienced
in 1901. with the girl said to be novvR
a prominent actress, whose story !
Thaw told yesterday afternoon. Mr. 4
O'Mara said he saw both this girl and
her mother and what they told him
agreed with Thaw's assertions
Did you believe this was true pc
asked Jerome.
yes, it looked plausible and saw
no reason why she should tell me-
such a story if it were not true
o. Mara said the girl told him that
White was preventing her from get /
ting n position at any theater.
O'Mara explained he was not in the
case for money.
Il knew Thaw as a boy" he said.
''and 1 came down here of my own
accord to do what I could
He had received only $4,000 for his
work so far. he said. O'Mara was
excused and Mr.. Morschauser called
Mrs. Mary COpley Thaw. She was
asked to explain Detective O'Mara's
"Mr. O'Mara came into this case E
she said. because he said he wanted
to do all he could for Mr. Thaw's boy.
I think his position in this case was
like that of millions Of angels'-and
she quoted:
They also served who only stand
and watt
Deceived by DIR. Hamilton.
She spoke with particular bitter
ness of DR.. Allan McLane Hamilton.
This alienist, she asserted. told her
that if she would submit to the plan
of sending Harry Thaw to Matteawan
1,a
Thaw should have a suite of rooms
and "every comfort and that she and
her daughters might visit him when
they chose. ...
Mrs Thaw declared that DR..
Hamilton. persuaded her to agree to
his methods by plausible arguments.
She described his methods of building
up an insanity defense for her son.
The witness used the word tor
ture" in referring to District Attorney
Jerome's treatment Of her SON
When she quoted Jerome's alleged
words this man is now in the place
where I hope he will be kept the
rest of his life" tears came to her eyes
and she had to pause to recover her
self control.
Mr. Morschasuer asked the witness
to name some of Harry's associates,
prior to his marriage. Her answer was
read from a list of guests at a dinner
the Thaws gave in New York in 1905
The list included Mrs. VanRansclaer .
den, Sir Bache and Lady Cunard, Ar .
thur Hadley, Lady Paget. Mr.. and Mrs. I
William Jay Livingstone. Mr.. and Mrs.
Oliver P. Belmont. Mr.. and Mrs. Rob /
and Henry Clews.
The witnesses self-possession failed f
her entirely when she again attempted !
to describe what she saw during her !
visits to her son at Matteawan.
Bursts Into Tears.
1T seemed to me like the vestibule
in the internal regions she said ands
burst into tears, covering her face with Z
her handkerchief
Mr.. Jerome had no questions.
During the Witnesses denunciation
he sat without a word or a trace OF
Josiah Thaw supported his
mothers steps back to her seat behind
Harry.
DR. Rritton D. Evans. recalled by Mr. 4
Morschauser declared Thaw had never
been coached for his appearance on the
jerome made an obvious effort to
ruff1e the witness when he asked: do
you think Governor Fort meant you
in his comments yesterday on medical
Il don't Know" DR.. Evans replied,
IF you want to go into personalities,
7 don't"
Jerome continued mis- sharp questions
until DR.. Evans finally turned on him
with the reminder that Jerome had
failed to secure him as the prosecu-
ton 5 WlLntSS At the NEldl ana LldL MS !
room at a New York hotel had been /
broken info.
Il don't know by whom" he said in
Jerome Comes Back.
The district attorney came back with
a storm of queries about the witnesses
report prepared for Thaw's attorneys
at the second trial.
Did you think that statement was
true?" asked Jerome. WAS it intend
ed to be true?"
DR. Evans flushed.
Don't you think that's a rather low
type of question: he asked.
mo, sir; think in your case 1t is the
type Of question to put" replied
Jerome.
Justice Mills asked "At any time
did Thaw express to you any more eS-
treme beliefs regarding White than ne
has testified to here?'
mo. except on my first three visits
after his arrest. After that he ex-
pressed confidence in the information
he had received but no more vigorously
than he did yesterday"