The Washington herald., 1912-06-19
THAW TAKESSTAND
IN FREEDOM FIGHT
Slayer of Stanford White Grilled
by jerome, Representing
the State.
EVELYN WILL BE A WITNESS

/ New York. June 1s.-Harry Thaw un-
expectediy took the witness stand at to-
days session Of the hearing. which Il
being held before Justice Keogh al
/ White Plains, to decide whether or not
he is now sane and should be releazed
| from Matteawan Asylum
He was interrogated for only a few
minutes. ThaW became a witness be-
cause former District Attorney Jerome,
who Is specially representing the State
at this hearing, produced some papers
which the young slayer OF Stanford
White had written while in the Tombs.
| Clarence J. shearn. Thaw's attorney,
would not admit they were In Thaw's
handwriting.
IAN right. Put him on the stand
and we'll see," said Jerome.
Dressed all in black and carrying a
| huge palm leaf fan, the so-called
paranoIac left his place between his
mother and sister, the Countess OF Var
mouth. and walked to the witness chair.
He was shown several sheets Of yellow
paper, upon which there were scrib-
blings in blue pencil, and was asked II
that was his handwriting. He exam
ined the sheets carefully and then. after
a period OF thought that seemed more
than a minute long, replied:
Yes; ! believe It is"
Jerome read the writing into the rec
ord. It related to articles by Mrs.
Wilcox and Dorothy Dix, printed dur
ing the first murder trial
Flash of Memory.
Thaw replied to an insinuation by Jer-
ONE that the Mrs Wilcox referred to
was a woman from whom he had rented
room, said the letter referred to Ella
Wheeler Wilcox. the writer.
Mr.. Thaw, where is Susan Merrill or
Roger O'Mara?" asked Jerome, but
Shearn hOtly objected to the insinuation
that witnesses were being concealed by
the defense, and Jerome ceased.
Thaw was shown another piece Of
writing. He again hesitated. and then
said II was a communication he had
written for his counsel Clifford Hart
ridge, soon after his arrest.
Just look and see II it wasn't written
before Hartridge became your counBel?''
Jerome asked.
Thaw showed a fash Of brightness and
memory. He replied: No, Il refers here
TO July "a. 1906, and HartridEe was re-
tained by me on July Il Of that year"
DO you object 10 it going in as evil
dence in this case?'
jected in chorus. Jerome demanded Of
the witness:
why do you object? Because YOU
know It is incoherent and shows that
your mind was disturbed when you wrote
it?"
After another pause Thsw said: No,
object because my counsel objects" His
voice was low and not very strong.
Newspaper Clippings.
A bundle Of newspaper clippings that
Thaw had given to Mr.. Delmas was then
produced. Alongside Of each printed arti-
Gle Thaw had made notes He admitted
having written the comments
1T was because Of these that / stopped
your trial and ordered a commission in
lunacy TO examine you" said Jerome
Don't you remember that you went be-
fore the commission and wrote out a
secret story Of your crime? I mean that
the commission and you were the only
ones who saw that story. and they i'm
mediately burned your writings"
Thaw could not remember such an oc-
currence clearly, It seemed. He re-
mained silent The days session ended
before Jerome could go further.
There were no witnesses to-day outside
Of the principals.
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw. the young wife
Of the man VINO is fighting for his free
com, will be a witness against him,
Jerome said. She has been notified 10
appear tomorrow.