Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw and May McKenzie arrived at the courthouse some time after the session had begun.
In cross-examination by Mr. Jerome the witness clung to his story. He added that “The Girl From Dixie” was playing at the Roof Garden Theater at the time, and that White and Thaw even then were rivals for Miss Nesbit’s affections.
The next witness was Martin Green, a newspaper man, who saw Thaw just after the shooting. He was asked as to Thaw’s manner after he committed the murder.
“He held the pistol high above his head,” said Mr. Green, “He was very pale, his eyes seemed about to pop out of his head, and his hair was hanging well down on his forehead.”
Dr. John Franklin Bingaman of Pittsburg, one of the Thaw alienists, testified he had known Harry Thaw for thirty years. He attended him when he was two or three years old. Thaw had children’s diseases and St. Vitus’ dance.
Dr. Bingaman said that Thaw’s condition might be called a neurotic temperament.
Mr. Jerome asked only two questions in cross-examination. In response to them Dr. Bingaman said Thaw had the St. Vitus’ dance when he was six or seven years old.
At the end of this day’s hearing Harry Thaw was in a frenzy. In his cell he denounced his lawyers for their determination to make insanity the defense. Adding to his troubles was the fact that his beautiful young wife was to go on the stand next day and bare her tragic life to the public gaze.
Mrs. Thaw dreaded the ordeal. She was barred from the court-room during the latter part of the early testimony, but extra editions of the newspapers were brought to her hourly, and she read the testimony she was not allowed to hear. She was ghastly pale, and at times appeared about to collapse.
Next day brought the crisis in the most sensational trial of the twentieth century, with the fair, slender Evelyn—the leader in the battle to save her husband’s life.