Читать книгу The Great Harry Thaw Case; Or, A Woman's Sacrifice онлайн

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“His mood was that of gayety and it expressed itself in his designs. The bases of St. Gaudens statues lent themselves to his mood, and some of his best work was done in connection with them. He was essentially an artist rather than an architect, and his influence in his firm was along the lines of the artistic rather than along the strict standards of architectural expression.”

There were current also numerous stories regarding White’s private life that were not of the creditable kind. It is not too much to say that he was frequently under suspicion, but there was always something Lacking in a legal way so that no open scandal attached to his name, although evil reports were frequent. No action was taken by the investigators, however, because of lack of tangible evidence.

One incident that contributed much to White’s bad reputation and which illustrates forcibly his view of a “good time” was the “Girl-in-a-Pie” affair, which was later to come out in evidence at the trial.

The famed “Girl-in-the-Pie” dinner was given to several artists and men about town, with several notorious “fashionable” women in attendance. The spread cost $350 a plate.