More crushing than all the ordeals hitherto experienced, Evelyn Thaw was next compelled to admit the shameful fact that after her ruin she lived on the bounty of her betrayer. Documentary evidence was introduced to strengthen the hands of the merciless Jerome. A dozen times she took refuge in the answer, “I don’t remember.”
It was a bad day for the defense. The most sensational feature of the session was the introduction of her diary which pictured her a whimsical, strange little philosopher, even as a school girl.
Jerome sprang his coup with startling suddenness. He handed Mrs. Thaw a bundle of receipts representing money paid to her and her mother by Stanford White, and demanded that the fair witness identify her own signature on them.
There were fourteen receipts in all. They were for various amounts received from the Mercantile Trust company, where White had deposited a sum of money for Evelyn and her mother. The amounts varied from $65 to $110. The receipts were signed “Evelyn Florence Nesbit,” the mother and daughter having the same name.
A letter and envelope addressed to White’s private secretary by the architect were next offered in evidence. The letter said:
“Dear Hartnett: Please telephone Mrs. Nesbit to let you know whenever Miss Evelyn decides to go on her vacation. Then send this note to the Mercantile Trust company: ‘Please notify Miss Nesbit that on receiving word she is about to start on her vacation you will send her the weekly checks for $25 and an additional check for $200.’ Yours truly,
“Stanford White.”
Evelyn was then compelled to admit that for several months in 1902 she lived at the exclusive Audubon apartments and that White paid the rent. Then she told of her meeting with Thaw and of her trip to Europe with him and of her recital to him of the story of her ruin, which, it was contended, wrecked his mind.
“When Harry learned I had a letter of credit from Stanford White, he grew very much excited,” declared Mrs. Thaw. “He said the money was filthy and poisonous and that I must never touch it again. He said he would take it so I could not use it. He said that he would give me anything I wanted, and that if mamma wanted anything she would only have to ask for it.
“When Mr. White gave me the letter of credit it was sealed up. I did not know what it was, and he told me I must not open the letter until we were well at sea. Whatever was used of the money was for my mother. Mr. Thaw gave it to her after I had given it to him.”