Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-15
DR.. OTTO NEVER, OF NEW YORK,
RELATES CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE PRISONER.
EVELYN THAW READY TO
TESTIFY FOR STATE
Fifth Day Of Hearing On Harry Thaw's
Mental Condition, Before Justice
Mills, in Supreme Court at White
PIains-Thaw Thinks "Alcohol Should
Be No Excuse for Crime.

White Plains, N. Y, July 15.-Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw was at hand, ready to
testify for the state. which is opposing
her husbands release from Matteawan
asylum for the criminal insane, when
the fifth day Of the hearing on Harry
K. Thaw's mental condition was begun
before Justice Mills in the supreme
court here today, with Dr. Otto Meyer,
of New York, on the witness stand.
Meyer testified that he saw Thaw
first at the White Plains Jail on Oct.
8, 1905, and discussed with him at
that time episodes included in the
hypothetical question which the wit
ness had prepared on which to base his
opinion of the prisoners sanity On
subsequent visits to the White Plains
Jail, and at Matteawan asylum, the
physician talked freely with Thaw, and
he said he got him to tell the story Of
his boyhood days.
Meyer related a conversation upon
one occasion when Thaw told him that
he feared he was going to have typhoid
fever, and suggested that his rooms at
the jail should be cooled off with twen-
ty tons of ice. Meyer said that he dis
cussed music, art, sociology and poll
tics with Thaw, and in regard to the
latter subject, Thaw laughingly re-
marked: Il helped elect Jerome" Wit
ness said that he approached the sub
ject of insanity with Thaw, and in
this connection referred to crime.
I asked him what he thought of a
crime committed under the influence
of alcohol, and he said that it should
not be any excuse" continued the wit
ness.
II asked him what the motives were
which prompted his shooting Of Stan
ford White, and he said there were
no improper motives.''
In answer to a question as to what
Il the effect or result Of Whites death
| had been, Thaw replied that there was
less danger now than BEFORE" and
that most people thought he had acted
properly under the circumstances. In
his conversation at Matteawan, the
witness said that Thaw had COM
planned Of having to retire early, to a
close and unlighted room. "He said,
however, that he did not expect any
unusual privileges. or any rules brok-
en- for him." witness said.
Evelyn Thaw on Stand.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw took the witness
stand this afternoon in the hearing on
Harry Thaw's mental condition. She
appeared as witness for the state
which is opposing the release of her
husband from the insane asylum.
Mrs. Thaw Tells Of Threat.
| Justice Mills ruled that Mrs. Thaw
could answer the question the state
desired to ask her regarding the alleged
threat to kill her made by Harry Thaw
during conversation at Matteawan
Mrs. Thaw asked if she could not
claim the privilege of refusing to an.
swer, on the ground that to reply
would incriminate her The cour,
ruled that she could not. Mrs. Thaw
asked if Thaw had not made such q
threat, said: "Yes, he did"
Mrs. Thaw said her husbands exact
words were:
II suppose I shall have to kill you
next when I get out of here" In APP
pealing to the court not to be forced
to answer the questions, Mrs. ThaW
tearfully said:
! II don't want to answer that ques.
ton; 1t places me in terrible position
My husband will refuse to support me
| the minute I answer it. / will incu,
his everlasting enmity: I know it.
/ am very much afraid to answer 1t. ~
don't care how he has treated me- an
still married to him. 1 do not want t.
answer it."
Thaw sat with his eyes intently up.
on his wife as she testified and shook
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