New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-21

three different whips. Asked to describe
them, she said one was an ordinary "ladys
riding crop" and one was a flexible dog
whip" In answer 10 further questions
Mrs Merrill said that the same thing had
occurred In Thaw's rooms at her hrst
apartment Al one time she saw TWO
young girls in the room with Thaw' she
said
Did you talk with Thaw about this bust
ness?" asked Mr.. Jerome.
Yes, I scolded him and asked him why
he beat the young women, and he SAID that
they deserved It. that they were not smart
and could not fill position on the stage
and that he had to whip them TO teach
them anything" the witness replied.
Did Thaw ever whip your maid?' asked
Mr. Jerome.
The witness at first said she did not think
so. but afterward admitted that he did
Did Thaw ever say anything to you
about keeping his callers separated
apart asked Mr.. Jerome.
Yes" was the reply.
Mr. Jerome introduced In evidence
memorandum book in which the witness
testified she had kept record Of the hap
penings in Thaw's rooms. In reference to
one incident Mrs Merrill said
l heard screaming and I tried to Get
into the room. ! had to go through lne
bedroom 10 get into the parlor. The sleht
in the room made me SICK. Cne OF Inr
girls had fallen on the floor and Thaw wa
In the act of striking the other one MS
eyes were protruding from his head, Inc
veins stood out on his forehead and u"
Coked IKE madm hof o aS TuS tbousbt he
would kill us all. I finally got the girls
out and he quoted down and went a"dH.
He said If told anything about u ne
would Kill me ! didn't see him Tor months
after that He sent mesSenser WIN ,j
500 t. nav all these Young girls. ana Said
net 10 give any girl less than 50 or III r.
than 500. which | did.
The witness told Of Thaw coming back T.
her house In West saith street later and the
same thing happening. In February, 1906.
she said. young girl called, who did no.
look more than fifteen years Old, and asked
for Professor Reed Thaw was out AZ the
time. hut he had telephoned her 20 keep
the girl until he returned.
Thaw Goes Through Window.
After Thaw returned soon heard
screams" the witness continued. "anl I
went 10 his room and tod him that would
break the door down If he did not let me in.
He opened the door and ran out and jumped
through a back window The girl was
bleeding on her neck and arms and cried
that Thaw was trying to kill her. Thaw
came back and said he would be good
that ne was not himself at times. told
him he would have TO move. but he said he
g--oy
Europe soon"
How much money in all did Thaw give
you to pay these young grls?' asked Mr..
Jerome.
The witness said she could not remember
but she admitted il was a large sum.
Didn't you pay one girl $1,000 in $1,000
bills at one time?' asked Mr.. Jerome.
The witness said she did, and that she
paid other girls large sums. but not any
one as much as that Mr. Jerome read
list Of names of a score or more Of girls
whom the witness admitted she had paid.
And this money was for the girls who
had been beaten by Thaw?' asked Mr..
Jerome.
Yes replied the witness
WHO gave you the money!" asked Mr..
Jerome
Mr.. Hartridge, Mr. Thaw's lawyer" was
the reply.
Isn't il true that there were upward Of
two hundred girls who got this money"
asked Mr.. Jerome.
Yes" the witness replied.
And they got It prior TO the first trial
o. Thaw for murder, didn't they" asked
Mr.. Jerome.
Yes" said Mrs. Merrill.
Mr. Shearn began the cross-examination
Of the witness at this point
In answer to questions Mrs. Merrill said
she had always been very friendly toward
Thaw and never wanted TO testify against
him. She couldn't explain why she had
written the memoran dum. or diary. OF the
happenings in Thav's rooms. which would
be very damaging to him II they were true.
She said she had given the diary 10 Mr..
Hartridge. but denied that she had written
II for him in 1906, after he had broken with
ThaW