Evening star., 1909-07-16
Thaw Threatened Her Life,
Declares His Wife on Stand


Declares His Wife on Stand
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, testifyins yester-
day as state witness against her nus
band, in answer to questions of Assistant
Attorney General Roger Clark, swore
that during a visit to Thaw in the Mat
teawan Asylum last year Thaw had told
her that when he got out of the asylum
he supposed he would have to Kill her.
She also said Thaw told her he missed
killing Stanford White by only two min
utes on the day before the actual murder
on the Madison Square roof garden.
Thaw later in the day denied his wife
story.
ness at the afternoon session of court.
She was composed, and, although re-
luctant witness, her answers were prompt
and to the point Justice Mills had ruieu
that a threat against her lie was not
confidential communication between man
and wife, and that, provided what young
Mrs. Thaw had to say did not tend to m
criminate her. she would have 10 tell
what threats Thaw had made.
Four Letters Identified.
Mrs. Thaw was on the stand less than
ten minutes. 1t had been expected that
Mr.. Morschauser, Thaw's lawyer, would
cross-examine Mrs Thaw at great length,
but he asked her only two or three aues-
tions. She identified four letters for him
that she had written TO ThaW since the
killing of Stanford White.
ThaW kept his eyes glued on his wife S
face while she was testifying against him,
but he. too. kept his nerve, and there
was no sign of. an outbreak on his part.
M
the Suppression of Vice sat beside ThaW
while Mrs. Thaw was testifying. Directly
behind him were his mother. his sister,
the former Countess OF Yarmouth, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Josiah ThaW.:
Thaw's Threat to Kill.
Attorney General Clark wasted no
words when Mrs. Thaw had taken the
stand.
rs it true, Mrs. Thaw." he asked,
that on a certain occasion when you
were talking with Harry K. Thaw in the
Matteawan Asylum for the Criminal In
sane and at time when Daniel O'Reilly
was present, Tnaw said this. or in SUBJ
stance this, to you: When i get out OF
here 1 suppose that l shall have to XIII
you'?"
Mr. Morschauser jumped to his feet
with an objection, but Justice Mills SIM
ply shook his head and said:
"She must answer
Under a section of the penal code. T"
said Mr. Morschauser, "a wife cannot
testify on the acts of dead or insane
husband, and as Harry X. Thaw is now
in law adjudged insane he is the same
as dead in law
"She will have to answer. was the re-
ply of Justice Mills. Mr. Clark again
put the question.
Mrs. Thaw Appeals to Court.
Mrs Thaw looked appealingly at JUS
ticA Mills. in seeming distress.
Must l answer that question, judge
she said Il am in a terrible position.
These people already hate me. and If
answer he will hate me always. l am
still married to him, and 1 would rather
not put anything in his way
Il appreciate your position, SAID Judge
Mills land l am sorry for you; but you
will have to answer. unless you can say
that to do so would tend to incriminate
you.
Il can't say that" Mrs. Thaw said.
For the third time Mr.. Clark repeated
his question. Mrs. ThaW seemed to delib-
crate a moment, as if trying to frame
her answer, then looked up swiftly
straight into Mr.. Clark's eyes and said:
Yes, he did
Her voice was SO clear that even the
crowd In the corridors outside heard what
she said.
Mrs. Thaw, will you state exactly
what Harry X. Thaw said to you al that
time?'
He said,'' she replied. "'When ] get
out of this place | suppose shall have
to kill YOU. =
Describe Thaw's actions when he said
that"
Meant to Kill White Sooner.
I'VE were discussing his mental condi-
me. You know l was not crazy when
killed Stanford White. l just missed him
by two minutes the day before"
This ended the states examination OF
Mrs. Thaw. Then Mr.. Morschauser took
her in hand.
DO you recall" he asked visiting
Thaw at Matteawan in November. l9os?"
Il made several visits TO him there she
replied.
do you remember a conversation with
Thaw in reference to a warning given
| him about DR.. Flint
Now / know what YOU are talking
about, she answered
What did you say to him al that
| time
There was to be an entertainment OF
some sort in the asylum. and | told him
| that some people were coming up TO Mat
| teawan. among whom was TO be DIR. Flint
| | told him that under the circumstances
L L
and asked him if he didn't think it woulc
| be wise thing to do.
| Mr.. Morschauser then handed a mum
Der of letters TO Mrs. rhaw TO be identi
| fed. She said that all of the letters hat
| been written by her to Thaw. Sh.
laughed out loud while reading one of tn,
| letters.
/ AS soon as Mrs Thaw left the stanc
| the examination of witnesses for Thap
4 was resumed. Anthony Comstock was tn,
| 6rst witness Mr.. Comstock said that n,
had had several interviews with Thav
concerning White
Thaw Contradicts Wife.
| After the adjournment reporters aske,
Thaw If he had anything TO say about h i
vife's testimony He replied that he has
not been surprised at her attitude, bu
denied emphatically that he had eve,
threatened her life she testified he had
| Its plain TO ever, one said Thaw
that her story is untrue. l never threat