A vacant Manhattan building at 22,West 24th Street (above), that played a part in an infamous 'Gilded Age' murder case, partially collapsed, less than two weeks after city officials expressed concerns about the buildings stability. No one was hurt as the back of the four-and-story building caved in about 8pm Saturday October 27th 2007.The building became a salacious footnote in a sensational 1907 trial involving a teenage showgirl, a jealous husband, and a renowned architect Stanford White (below).
Something about him tickled her fancy.
Stanford White enjoyed a successful career which included designing the original Madison Square Garden, the famous arch at Washington Square Park and several other city landmarks. He was also a legendary philanderer. White rented part of this property and used it for trysts in 1901 with 16-year-old showgirl Evelyn Nesbit (below). She subsequently married, and her vengeful husband Harry Thaw, shot and killed White on Madison Square Garden's rooftop garden in 1906. The trial revealed that White's 24th Street hideaway was fitted with a red velvet swing (on which Miss Nesbit swung in the all-together, while he watched on appreciatively from beneath), among other racy details best left to the imagination. Thaw was eventually acquitted on the grounds of insanity.
It also came out that White would suggest to his guests "to see his drawings and etchings," kept here. This mock-seductive invitation to "come up and see my etching?" became a popular line with aspiring playboys for decades after this revelation.
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