Topics in Chronicling America - The first "trial of the century" the murder of Stanford White

On June 25, 1906, millionaire Harry Thaw murdered famed architect Stanford White in a jealous rage over Thaw's actress wife, Evelyn Nesbit. The ensuing high-society trials (the first ended in a dead-locked jury) gripped the nation's headlines for more than a year. Read more about it!

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• June 26, 1906: Harry Thaw shoots Stanford White.
• January 23, 1907: The first trial of Harry Thaw begins.
• February 7, 1907: Evelyn Nesbit Thaw's first day of testimony.
• April 12, 1907: The jury in the Thaw trial is deadlocked.
• January 9, 1908: The second trial of Harry Thaw begins.
• February 1, 1908: Thaw is found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental institution.

Suggested Search Terms:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] Harry Thaw, Evelyn Nesbit, Mrs Thaw, Mary Thaw, Mother Thaw, Stanford White, William Jerome, Jack Barrymore

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "Harry Thaw Kills Stanford White In Jealous Rage Over Actress Wife," The Washington Times, 26 June 1906, Last Edition, Page 1, Image 1 col. 3
• "Murder Thaw Denied Bail, Held Prisoner In The Tombs," The San Francisco Call, 27 June 1906, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3
• "Insanity Will Be The Plea Of Harry K. Thaw," The Salt Lake Herald, 27 June 1906, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1
• "Experts Say Thaw Is Sane," The Evening World, 27 June 1906, Final Results Edition, Page 1, Image 1 col. 1
• "Not Guilty Plea Entered By Thaw," The Paducah Evening Sun, 29 June 1906, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1
• "How White Was Dogged Told By His Bodyguard," The Evening World, 30 June 1906, Final Results Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1
• "White's Victims Confess," Los Angeles Herald, 1 July 1906, Page 1, Image 1 col. 5
• "Chorus Girls' Testimony Damaging To Harry Thaw," The San Francisco Call, 10 July 1906, Page 1, Image 1 col. 7
• "Nesbit Girl Said Thaw Would Kill Her," The Evening World ,25 July 1906, Final Results Edition, Page 1, Image 1 col. 1
• "Finds a Motive For Slaying Of White," The San Francisco Call , 9 August 1906, Page 1, Image 1 col. 1
• "Harry Thaw Trial Opened Up Today," Palestine Daily Herald, 23 January 1907, Page 1 Image 1 col. 2
• "Evelyn Nesbit Thaw; The Woman In The Case," The Washington Times, 10 February 1907, Magazine Section, Page 2, Image 43, Image 2 col. 1
• "Irresistible Impulse Goaded Thaw to Slay," Los Angeles Herald, 6 February 1907, Page 1, Image 1 col. 1
• "Jury In Thaw Case Unable to Agree, Is Discharged," The Times Dispatch, 13 April 1907, Page 1, Image 1 col. 7
• "Thaw Again Takes Center Stage and Will Plead Unrestricted Insanity," The San Francisco Call, 7 January 1908, Page 1, Image 1 col. 7
• "Thaw Taken to Madhouse Vigorously Protesting," The Evening World, 1 February 1908, Final Results Edition, Page 1, Image 11 col. 7