New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-19
THAW A ]AUN1Y WITNESS
Calmly Faces Jerome Halt Hour
While Identifying Letters.
WIFE MAY TESTIFY TO-DAY
Evelyn to Appear Against Hus'
band and Enlarge on Pre-
vious Startling Story.

vious Startling Story.
Harry X. Thaw was uneXpectedly c"l'eu
70 the witness stand yesterday, at the
hearing on the writ which his lawyers on-
,aincd from Justice Keogh, at White Plains
I'm a third attempt to prove his sanity ana
obtain his release from Matteawan Asylum
William r. Jerome, who is conducting the
case for the state. wanted the petitioner 10
identify certain letters and statements ne
had written. which MI Jerome sought 10
place in evidence.
On the stand only half an hour yes'er-
dav Tbaw is expected to testify later IN
his own behalf and then probably VIII
undergo a long ordeal at 'he hands OF lne
former District Attorney. who prosecute
him for the killing of Stanford Nhlte'
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, Harry's WE VIII
probably be called as a witness to-udH'
Though she told the sordid story or her
past life at the Thaw trials TO assist h''
husband to escape the death penalty size
will appear as a witness against MN Al
the present hearings. II is said tha' '"e
story she will tell now will Ne even more
sensational than her previous tesumonE'
clarence j. SheaIn. leading counsel Tor
ThaU. rested his case temporarily soon
after proceedings began The state S law
yers were taken by surprise. Mr.. jerome
told the court he had not expected to can
witnesses so soon and had none present
Justice Keo=h suggested il was good time
70 read into the record whatever docu-
mentarv evidence the state wished 20 pre-
sent. and Mr.. Jerome occupied most Of the
time Yesterday in that manner
Question Of Privilege,
Mr. Jerome read long extracts from the
testimony Of various witnesses at ThaW,s
trials for homicide and from the RECORDS
W the previous haheas corpus proceedings.
When Mr. Jerome got to some Of the let
ters and statements which Thaw had writ
ten Mr. Shearn objected so emphaucalIy'
on the ground that they were privileged
communications that Mr.. Jerome suddenly
called Thaw to the stand.
Thaw was taken unawares. but lett MS
mothers side and STEPPED iauntily TO the
witness chair He smiled at some OF Mt,
Ieronte's pointed questions. but answered
them IN q OelDeldlt anu 'allI '''S'''''
Several statements written with blue pen
ell for Clifford W. Hartridge. VINO appeared
as one of Thaws counsel al his trials
were identified by Thaw as being In MS
handwriting At the suggestion OF MI
shearn. the witness declined TO waive his
rights as to the privileged communlca-
tons between counsel and client and most
Of them were excluded from evidence Mt
shearn was so persistent with objections
that the states attorney wheeled on MN
and asked him If he intended 10 let the
witness testify or wanted 10 testify him
self.
If YOU want to testify l will give you an
onportunity right now in regard 10 the
Susie Merrill matter" said Mr.. Jerome.
What do YOU mean by that asked
Mr. Sbearn hotly. IF you have any insin-
uations TO make against me, be man ana
make your charges, and YOU will be held
responsible for them but don't resort 10
any of your cowardly tactics.
Why is Roger O'Mara not here to-day
Mr.. Jerome asked quietly.
4 don't know why, or where he is MI
Shearn replied more calmly.
Mr. Jerome had said the day before that
Susie Merrill was 10 have been an i'm
portant witness for the state. He intmated
that she had been spirited away. Roger
O'Nara is a Pittsburgh detective who has
been in the employ Of the Thaw family
for years The state desired to call him
as a witness in regard to the Merrill mat
ter, it was said.
More Yellow Stationery.
t-.... -L...1l THU. q, lottc,, writ