The Washington herald., 1912-06-21
Jerome Steals Woman Witness from
the Custody of Thaw
Detectives.
SHE TELLS STORY
OF BEATING GIRLS
Hartridge Called scoundrel by
Clarence ]. shearn, Thaw's
Lawyer.

bearing 10 establish the nationality OF
Harry K. Thaw fairly exuded sensa-
tional situations.
The day began with Mrs. Evelyn Mes
bit Thaw's graphic recital OF exciting
events both before and after the killing
Of Stanford White. 1t came TO a climax
when. Special Deputy Attorney General
Jerome produced Mrs. Susan A. Merrill,
a witness believed to be hundreds OF
miles away, who, between fits of hys-
teris gave startling testimony against
the Pittsburger; and Il closed with a
triple thrill which the words ''liar'' and
''scoundreI'' were banded about among
opposing counsel.
Justice Keogh announced adjournment
until tomorrow when Jerome and Clar-
ence ]. Shearn, chief counsel for Thaw,
were in the midst Of arguments over the
possession Of certain first triaT' docu-
ments, When adjournment was an
nounced both men and their assistants
attempted TO take physical possession of
the papers. Words were exchanged, and
there were promises OF a lively time
when both sides Joined in requesting the
court to guard the papers overnight.
HartridEe Pushes In.
Just at this moment Clifford Hartridge,
former counsel for Thaw, made his way
10 the frcnt of the court room. His face
uvid with anger, he demanded what
sion he had characterized Hartridge as
''scoundrel who had betrayed his most
sacred trust" Shearn calmly told Hart
ridge that he meant every word he had
spoken, and that he could give him an
other excellent reason why the term
scoundrel was peculiarly suited TO him.
HartTidge then demanded that the court
allow him TO make q statement. Justice
Reogh advised the aggrieved attorney
10 write the court a letter"
The third ruction was caused by Je-
rome, who produced & letter written to
Evelyn Thaw just prior to the 1893 hear
ing. in which was inclosed 500. with the
intimation that the money should be
used to get out Of New York State. This
letter was signed by Charles Morschau-
ser. formerly Thaw's counsel.
Jerome declared he intended TO pro-
duce other evidence of bribery in previ-
Gus Thaw actions. Mrs. Thaw was called
TO the stand to-day as the first witness.
With Ianguid lips. half parted. the young
woman continued the story Of her life
with Thaw. She identified several crude
drawings by Thaw. told Of his attempt
to form a suicide pact with her. insinu-
sted with cold Indifference that he had
accidentally killed a woman in Pitts
burg, and read the following letter which
he had written her from the Tombs:
Letter to Evelyn.
First, get well. Never drink cham
payne: it Is hard on the liver and bad
for the brain. Here we are fed on pies
and turkey at great expense. Please be
very good to her eyes and mouth, the
little abused angel; buy her woolen stock |
lngs for angels leggies."
She was telling OF a visit TO Matteawan |
when Thaw complained bitterly that he |
found Jumps Of saltpeter in his food, |
when a court officer handed a slip Of /
TO- ~ =Hw-mFN
Of Mrs. Merrill. Jerome asked for five
minute recess to consult with the new
witness Detectives employed by Jerome |
had located her some distance away from /
New York and brought her here.
The witness was in the custody Of four
OF Roger O'Mara's men," said Jerome |
later. We located her by the greatest /
piece Of detective work in my experience !
I can't tell that story until after the
trial.
Evelyn was excused for the time being, |
and Mrs. Merrill was called, but she be-
came hysterical and raised such an up
roar that proceedings were halted for
fifteen minutes to quiet her sufficiently
10 allow her being called.
Mrs. Merrill has known Thaw since 1901.
It was in her fats in West Forty-third
Street and West Fifty-fourth Street that
Thaw is alleged to have beaten girls with
whips.
Did Thaw hire rooms from your" be-
gan Mr.. Jerome. Mrs. Merrill who is
large and fiorid showed evidence Of ex-
element and pleaded so hard 10 be spared |
minute recess was ordered by the court.
BOmbEheH Sprung.
After recess she maintained her COM
posure for a few minutes. Jerome here
sprung his bombshell He produced
memoranda book writteC by Mrs. Merrill,
in which she kept a record OF the al
legged actions Of Thaw from 1901 up TO the
time Of the killing OF Stanford White.
The witness said that Thaw had beaten
more then 200 girls. These, she said.
were all paid sums ranging frcm 5000
TO the woman known as Mrs. Reed" the
name Reed being the one by which Thaw
was known; 5000 ts the girl from North
Carolina, and other sums down to SIS.
She said she paid the girls this money
prior to the first trial Of Thaw for the
murder of White. The money was given
her by Mr.. Hartridge, she swore.
Among those girls was Miss Richardson,
Miss Richards Miss Smith, Miss Freeman,
Miss Johnson, and Miss Thurston Mrs
Reed" was paid in seven 81. 900 bills
Mr.. Jerome read from the witness book
Of notes describing how she had burst into
Thaw's rooms one day and saw two girls
one lying on the floor in a faint. Thaw
started toward her, she wrote, with his
eyes bulging and the veins standing out
on his forehead.
"Afterward. he said, II said word
about that he would kill me-" the woman's
writing ran. Later he sent me 500 by
messenger. He said I was to pay the
girls not less than S25 or more than 800
apiece. Mrs. Reed told me when he is
crazy be does that way -"
O'Mara in Case. l.
The witness was made to identify a
telegram Roger O'Mara sent her on jan J
uary 81 last, which resulted IN a confer
ence with O'Mara at the Hotel Navarro,
In New York She added that she had
known Stanford White, who had given I
supper parties in both her places. White, I
she said, had a standing offer Of 5000 {
to any young Sirl any one could bring
him.
On cross-examination, Mr.. Shesrn pro- '
duced a letter written last January by s
her to Thaw, in which she expressed {
friendliness Of sentiments, warned Thaw I
10 keep his mouth shut and added that
a multimiiuonaire friend Of Stanford $
White was plotting to keep him in Mat
teawan.
After fencing for half an hour ana I
under threat Of commitment for perjury, | :
the witness stated that Thaw's multi /
millionaire enemy was Col Clay" Thel ]
name was SO obviously false that the ]
witness Joined IN the laughter that fol- '
lowed.
Il was developed by Mr.. shearn dur ]
II