The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-06-30

criminal law, but the Thaw trial was
the last of his great cases.
Almost Immediately after the killing
of White Frank 8. Black, former gov
ernor of New York state, was retained
to conduct the defense. He, with his
associate, William M. X. Olcott.
wished to interpose the plea of in
sanity, there seeming but one course
open to save Thaw from the electric
chair. They would have to prove in
herent insanity-not mere temporary
alteration. This line of defense was
vigorously opposed by the members OF
the Thaw family, and Black got out Of
the case.
One Who Escaped Blight.
OF all the men who at one time or
another were counsel for Thaw, 1t ap
pears that Frank s.. Black Is the only
man who has escaped the blight OF
misfortune. He promptly withdrew
from all contact with the case, and he
alone has escaped the hand Of Meme
sis. Lucky Mr.. Black!
One of the associates of Stanford
White in the acquaintance of Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw was a Wall street finan-
cier. He was a millionaire, the head
of a prominent banking firm. He was
a man approaching the Biblical three
score years and ten, with married
sons and two unmarried daughters.
He remained nameless throughout the
first Thaw trial and was known only
as the "Old Man" Fascinated by the
youth and fresh beauty of Evelyn Thaw
the old man paid no attention to his
business, but spent most of his time
in pursuit of the girl. He lavished
upon her gifts the price of which had
taken years to accumulate. Although
the unsettled conditions in the money
market demanded his attention he let
events take their course. Deeper and
deeper he involved himself by reck-
less spending and by neglect Of his
business affairs. Before the end OF
the first trial he was in deep water.
One day the city was startled by the
news that he had been declared bank
rupt.
Vet Another Victim.
There was another man who trod
the iowery path in Evelyn Nesbit's
wake. Satiated with the pleasures his
$22, 000, 900 had bought and could buy,
his interest vas whetted by this girl
whose name was upon every ones lips.
Her husband In prison, the light Of
tragic notoriety about her, her stand
ing In the family OF the Pittsburg mil.
lionaire extremely precarious, she ap-
pealed to him and he constituted him.
self her protector. But even the Gay
White Way withholds its favor and ap-
prevail sometimes. On more than one
occasion certain gilded palaces of re-
freshment denied them hospitality.
Twice in n evening these two were
compelled to leave the places in which
they had sought entertainment.
This a still young, has had to
submit to the tying up of his huge
fortune by creditors and the insistance
of his family that he remain abroad.
so weary and discouraged are they by
his designations and spendthrift hab-
its. Today he is a derelict upon the
boulevards of Paris-another of the
many victims of the most famous trag-
edy New York has ever known. His
wife. after years of neglect, divorced
him. Today, despite his wealth, he is
no more to be envied than Dan O'Reil-
ly, for he is a hopeless drunkard.
The Mothers Suffering.
And IL the Nemesis of Harry Thaw's
crime rests heavily upon his sister,
what frightful havoc has 1t wrought
in the heart and life OF Mary Copley
Thaw, his mother! After a life al
ready filled with enough of trouble,
the weight Of a thousand humiliations
is laid upon her shoulders to bear the
best she can. Every sacrifice OF which
q woman's heart is capable she has
made. She has fought each step OF
the way with the frenzy OF a terror
stricken mother trying to save her
child at any cost. Secret after secret
has been dragged forth from family
privacy and held up to make discus
sion for two continents. The pride OF
a good woman and true has been hui
inflated before . world, her actions
criticised, her indulgence to . worth
less o blamed for his downfall. She
has depleted her fortune and given
the last years Of her life that this sin
may pay the price Of his crime with
the minimum misery and suffering.