New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-21
SUSIE MERR|LL'S RETURN
D|SMAYS THAW'S FORCES
Witness, Who Had Been "Miss-
ing," Repeats Testimony About
Whipping of Girls.
DAY OF EXCITING INCIDENTS
Jerome Enlivens Sanity Hearing
with Charges of Bribery
Evelyn Thaw Tells of Sui
eide Pact Proposition.

Evelyn Thaw Tells of Sui
eide Pact Proposition.
The inquiry into the sanity OF Harry X.
Thaw before Justice Keogh. at White
Plains, yesterday, furnished sufficient dra-
matte situations and sensational turns to
satisfy the most curious among the spec
tators who crowded the courtroom,
Charges Of bribery Of witnesses by Thaw
agents 70 keep them without the jurisdic-
ton Of the court we're made in open court
by w. T Jerome, who represents the state
in opposing Thaws release.
The production by the state authorities
Of Susie Merrill, the witness who had been
missing" created a sensation and threw
CONSERVATION into the camp of the Thaw
forces. Under the close surveillance OF
detectives in the District Attorneys office
on the floor below the courtroom she be-
came violently hysterical and her screams
were heard throughout the building. JUS
,ice Keogh adjourned court until she could
lie quieted She sobbed and pleaded with
the detectives not to make her testify
against Thaw. She was a witness in his
behalf at a former hearing.
The exciting incidents of the days pro-
ceedings were carried into a general
vrangle among opposing counsel after the
adjournment of court Clarence ]. Shearn
Thaw's chief counsel. demanded that Mr.
Jerome produce a letter to which he had
referred as having been written by one OF
Thaw's counsel offering a witness money
20 leave the state. Mr.. Jerome showed a
letter 10 the court, which Mr. Shearn said
afterward had been written by Mr. Nor
schauser Of Thaw's counsel, 10 Evelyn
Neshit Thaw some time ago, merely in
closing Evelyn's monthly allowance from
the Thaw family and $500 extra for vaca-
ton expenses M Jerome intimated that
he had other letters.
Clifford W. Hartridge who was one OF
Thaw's lawyers at his first trial for killing
Stanford White appeared at the close OF
court with n letter in answer 10 the charge
made by Mr. Shearn the day before that
he. Hartridge, was a "scoundrel" for
breaking faith with his client. Thaw. and
turning over confidential communications
TO Mr. Jerome Mr.. Hartridge asked JUS
tice Keogh TO have the letter read in open
court.
Shearn and Hartridge Clash.
Mr. shearn was present and he and Hart
ridge clashed Mr.. shearn told the court
that he had not changed his mind about
Thaws former counsel and confded 70
Justice Keogh other reasons than those he
had mentioned in court which led him to
use the opprobrious appellation. Referring
70 all the charges and counter charges
made, Justice Keogh finally told the law
yers that II was matter for the Appellate
Division TO entertain, II they wished TO
press charges, and was not within his juris-
diction.
Some of the Merrill woman's testimony
proved as sensational as her dramatic APP
pearance in court. She testified that many
young girls had been fogged in the rooms
occupied by Harry Thaw in the witness s
house, in West 54th street, in 1905, prior to
the shooting of White Mrs. Merrill swore
that she had found several partly clad
young women, at different times, scream
ing and writhing from their whippings on
the floor Of Thaw's rooms. She told of pay
ing thousands of dollars 10 over two hum
dred girls who had been mistreated by
Thaw Thaws counsel Hartridge, sent her
the money for distribution, she said. At
che time she paid 500 to a Mrs. Reed,
who was known as Thaws wife, at the wit
ness's house, as that was the name Thaw
went under al the time. Mrs. Reed was
enc Of the young women who had been
logged. and the money was given her for
her silence Just before the first Thaw trial,
the witness said. Another girl got 5000,
and the brides IN other cases ranged from
S25 up she testified.
Evelyn Thaw was on the witness stand
,.I1
occurred Court adjourned, and on account
of the womans condition It was decided to
suspend the testimony Of Thaws wife un-
IL Mrs. Merrill could testify Still sob
bing Mrs. Merrill was finally taken into
count and took the witness stand. She is
a stout woman, with a ford complexion.
She pleaded with the court that she did not
want 10 testify and bring more disgrace
upon herself or any one else. She proved
an unwilling witness. with a remarkable
laDse OF memory. in Mr. Jerome's hands
ana he frequently mad 10 read the record
OF her former testimony 10 refresh her
recollection She broke down repeatedly.
she Knew Shaw as "Mr. Reed"
She said that he name was Susan A.
Merrill and that she had been a witness
at the previous Thaw hearing. She first
met Thaw in 1901 at Mrs Grays house, In
West 18th street. She rented rooms TO him
at her house in West 23d street, and knew
him there under the name OF Mr.. Reed"
Ne told her that he was placing young
girls on the stage, and many OF them came
10 see him, she testified In April she
moved 10 No. POS West 54th street, and
Mr. Reed" took rooms there. she said.
Did you enter Thaw's room on one oc-
casion when you heard girl screaming"
asked Mr. Jerome.
The witness said she did.
What did you see? Who was there
asked Mr.. Jerome.
The witness hestated and finally said
that she couldn't just remember now"
Mr. jerome refreshed her memory from
the record OF her previous testimony, and
she replied that there was a very young
girl in the room with Thaw, and the girls
neck and limbs were covered with big
welts Al this point the witness seemed
about TO collapse entirely, and Mr.. Jerome
asked for an adjournment. saying that the
witness had come from long distance and
had had nothing TO eat, and that she had
begged him TO get her something TO eat
hofnra, cha tool 10 uitnpsS stand