Page:The Great Harry Thaw Case.djvu/195

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do with the truth or falsity of her story. We have nothing to do with whether Stanford White did or did not do these things. The issue here is did or did not this defendant's mind become unhinged when he heard Evelyn Nesbit's story.

"If this jury believes that she told this awful story would it not be a fact that they would carry it in their minds and would it not weigh heavily?

"If on the other hand I can show that Mrs. Thaw did not tell Thaw in Paris that White drugged her it will be a matter for the jury to consider seriously in determining whether or not Thaw was insane when he killed Stanford White.

"If I can show that Evelyn Nesbit Thaw under the solemnity of an oath swore that White had never wronged her; if I can show that she repelled the advances of the man and that Thaw whipped and beat her because she would not affix her signature to an affidavit charging White wronged her; if I can show that she said to Hummel: 'He beat me when we were in Paris; he lashed me with a whip because I would not sign papers;' if I can show she swore 'Stanford White never touched me'; if I can show that Thaw wanted her to sign papers in order to put White in the penitentiary—I can then show that the evidence in question is of vital importance.

"If I can show that she has made contradictory statements, the testimony of Doctors Evans and Wag-