Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-08
Stanford White'sVSlay-
er T ak e S Witness
Stand to Prove His
Sanity to Jury.
Says He Rented Room From
Mrs. Merrill to Investigate
Abuse of Young Women.
Rich Men Once Conspired to
Keep Him in Matteawan.

NEW YORK, July s-Harry X. Thaw
took the stand today as the first wit
ness in hs effort to have himself de-
olarcd sane by a jury in Justice Hen
dricks courtroom. The slayer Of stan
ford White was Immediately cross-ex-
amined by the States attorneys.
Crowds Of fashionable. gowned women
thronged the courtroom 20 hear Thaw
testify.
The calling OF Thaw followed the read
ing by Deputy Attorney General Becker
OF further testimony from the sanity
bearing at White Plains In 1909
Justice Hendrick ruled that as Thaw
had been called by his own counsel the
state could not call him as witness, but
must recall him for cross-examination.
Thaw stepped jauntily to the chair, with
a backward glance at his mother. He
gave his birthplace as Pittsburgh and
his age as "A.
Deputy Attorney General Cook con-
Quoted a rather jerky cross-examination,
not questioning Thaw in chronological
order. He first asked Thaw when he last
was disturbed about any reports he had
heard about himself.
''In 1919" Thaw answered. Mr..
Jerome at that time made aspersions
about Mr. White which 1 resented"
when have you been angry or dis
turbed since"
cat no time that recollect."
"Do you think anybody Is trying to
keep you in Matteawan?'
Nobody but Mr.. Jerome. I think no
rich man is now aiding Jerome or you
to keep me in Matteawan."
''Did you ever think that certain rich
men we're trying to keep you in Matten-
wan7"
''Yes"
"when do you think they ceased?"
"In 1912"
Thaw at first appeared slightly nervous,
but this quickly wore Off and when he got
into the swing OF his testimony he was
calm and self-possessed and spoke slowly
and distinctly. He wore the familiar dark
blue suit and black tie He sat with
crossed legs. one hand on the chair rail
With the her he stroked his chin. On
his lap was a bundle OF papers.
what made you think there was con-
spiracy of rich men against your" Cook
asked
~ was told So" Thaw replied. IL had
that impression from several people"
REFUSES TO ANSWER.
Cook demanded that Thaw state exactly
what had been told him, and Thaw re-
piled, II refuse to answer"
Cook did not press the matter further.
Mrs. Marv Copley Thaw and Mrs.
George l.. Carnegie We're among the first
women In the courtroom. They sat within
the rail and listened to Thaw's testimony
with intense interest. From time to time
Thaw glanced at his mother and smiled.
Thaw showed no animosity toward
Cook. and seemed in good humOr. He
answered all questions frankly and read
n.y. except few that he refused point
Did you understand that these rich
men were going to Jerome's financial
aid?" nsked Cook.
II did"
what made you think that?"
ct read II in the newspapers and also
was told IT,"
Have you, at any Of your resent trials,
had this information in shape To give TO
the Court?"
WAY should it be presented to the
Court2 The question before the Court
now is whether / am sane I don't be-
lieve that any such conspiracy against me
now exists"
Thaw admitted he knew Mrs. susa A.
Merrill. He had known her quite a long
time, he said.
What were your relations with her?"
Cook asked.
INVESTIGATED GIRLS RUIN.
II rented a room Of her for the purpose |
Of carrying on my investigation OF the |
ruin OF young girls"
Cook then dropped the Merrill subject |
and produced a letter that Thaw wrote |
last summer from Concord, ~. H., in |
which he asked the recipient. a woman. |
TO ask her State Senator and Assembly |
man to vote for the proposed bill pro-
vidinE for ThaW's release. The letter re- .
ferred 10 jerome and those behind him"
"why did you write that letter." asked |
Cook
'Mr Cook" said Thaw. "lf you really
want TO know why / wrote the letter I'll |
tell you, but il will take me couple of
hours 10 do II"
"Well, go ahead" said Justice Hendrlck |
Answer the question" said Cook
1T has been answered" said Thaw,
showing surprise.
Cook explained he aas waiting for the
two-hour answer explaining the letter.
"Oh," said ThRw. laughing. II meant |
Il would take two hours 20 get documents
with which to answer I did not mean /
! would talk two hours"
"Did you believe when you wrote that
letter there still existed conspiracy |
against you2" Cook asked.
Thaw did not know. Il thought that /
there we're people helping Jerome, but not
rich men"
Thaw was examined at length regarding
letters written by him az numerous times |
Many OF the questions were OF trlhing /
character.
rhaw said he had been informed that
entries In the case book at Matteawan
were made months after their purported
dates
SAYS DOCTOR BETRAYED HIM:
Thaw mentioned his wife only once dur
ins the morning, and then he betrayed no |
feeling. He referred 20 her as Evelyn" /
His reference 10 his estranged wife, who |
VIII probably appear unWillingly under |
arrest tomorrow to testify for the State. /
came when he was asked about DR.. Allen /
MeLane Hamilton, an alenist. once In /
Thaw's employ
"He betrayed an the information he 1
got from me and Evelyn" he said
DID you read Dr. Hamiltons report /
that sou were in his opinion insane at the /
time OF your second trial7" he was asked 1
"Ha replied rhaW
Evelyn Now Willing to Return
MALONE. y r. July &-Evelyn Thaw /
all not attempt 70 hea 10 Canada 10 |
avoid being returned 70 New York 10 1
farIiFsl is Harr. X Vharvfa eanff. f-f.f