Page:The Great Harry Thaw Case.djvu/275



"A wealthy man, finding, God only knows why, enjoyment in her company—see how young she seems today (pointing to Evelyn Thaw)—think how young she must have been then—that a rich man should have tried to help her is consistent with his conduct.

"That when she was told by the manager of the 'Florodora' company, to whom she had applied, that they were not 'running a baby farm'—that a man like Stanford White should have taken care of her and protected her—is certainly not inconsistent with the belief that her relations with him were pure.

"Again, it is consistent that their relations were not pure. This girl alone knows. But I submit this girl is not telling the truth. There is no proof of the wrongdoing."

At this point Jerome asked that a recess be taken. At the reconvening of court, Mr. Jerome resumed as follows:

"I have carefully laid out to you what we are here for in our respective duties. I have presented briefly as I could the facts that I have adduced.

"The head on which I am now dwelling is, 'What is the defense that the defendant makes to this formal charge?' I deem it necessary to dwell at some length on the character of the three persons who figure most in this case. However, much as we may disagree, we come back to the issue: 'Did he know the nature and quality of his act?'

"'I did not know it was a self-cocking revolver and I did not know I walked toward Stanford White and I I not know it was against the law of the land to fire the shots.'

"In regard to the girl, we may esteem her, however much or little we may think of her veracity. Nothing can go out to her except our pity. If these things did not