Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-02
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Who Paid His Fine 2.

SOMEBODY PARTS WITH $1,000 RATHER
THAN BE EXPLOITED WITH MRS.
THORP.
NEW YORK, Dec. %, 1885. An impov-
erished man has paid $1,000 in court for
having shot a woman. and it is accepted
as a fact that she provided the money.
When it is added that she hates and de-
spises him, the motive is worth looking
after. The case is a singular one. and the
principal figure is remarkable adventu-
ress. Jim Wood was gambler notorious
in Philadelphia twenty years ago. lie mao
a daughter, Laura, who grew up beautiful
and reckless. Her father desired, as TEL
lows in his class commonly do, to rear his
child in refinement and culture. quite
away from his own foul environment, and
so Laura was well educated; but she pre-
ferred to simultaneously get training IN
vice, and she did it in spite OF all that her
father could do to prevent. She was bare
" in her teens before she began career
of sentimental rascalitv with those among
her numerous wooers who promised
good yield of money. After awhile she
made up her mind that there was more
profit in marrying Gould ii. Thorp than
in continuing indiscriminate operations.
Thorp was New York broker IN proVl-
sions, a member of wealthy and proud
family, and luxurious man about town.
He brought his bride to this city, but she
was not received into his family set.
though he gathered about her very gay
circle of rich but indiscriminate people.
She was queen of frivolity ever since.
One of the foremost beaux in Emma
Thorp's circle was Lloyd Phoenix, brisk
and frisky club man, than whom none was
better known in New York as downright
pleasure seeker. regardless of looks or
consequences. He paid court to the wife
of his friend, seemingly for deviltry
alone, while she fell in love with him sim
cerelv. He had as much money as her
husband, and, besides. was handsomer
and more brilliant. His amours had been
numerous and scanialous. A tip was
gone from one eaf; it had been shot off by
the woman who subsequently became the
Countess Pourtales, a noted Paris beauty.
She was in love with Phoenix. he was I'M
true to her, and she tried to kill him. This
tragedy was Fifth Ave. incident that
was at the time hidden from the public.
but it afterward came out in the course of
divorce suit. He next went to Paris,
where he had scandal with the Fanny
Lear who had become infamous as a
blackmailer of the Grand Duke Nicholas
of Russia, and who published his love
letters in a book PhGnix's courtship of
Fanny cost him dearly, for she almost
bankrupted him. and he returned to New
York, where he got fresh cash from his
relatives, and sought consolation in Mrs.
Thorp. Then Thorp brought suit for
divorce, and got it in 1882. The woman
went to live with Phoenix. The next out
break was fisticuif fight between her and
Phoenix, during which much breakage of
the art articles and furniture in their gorg-
eous apartments was wrought, the climax
being his arrest on her charge of assault.
He declared at that time that his associa-
ton with her had cost him $4,000. He
went on long yachting cruise after part
ing from her, and is now abroad.
Laura Throp, as she names herself still,
has for years been the most conspicuous
beauty in New York. Her vogue with
the rich young beaux has been immense.
Such chaps as Fred May, of Bennet-Mav
duel fame, fitted around her, and of all
she demanded heavy tribute. Her audaci-
ty was surprising. She got into charity
ball. right among the tashionables, and
occupied box resplendently; she drove
to the Jerome Park races in dog cart
lent to her by a scion of we'll known
family; she was a sight at the opera and
theatre; she wore the costliest and gayest
clothes, and it seemed to be her delight to
parade her seductive power over her
lovers. Her home was fine, large house
in West Twenty-frst street. where she
gave receptions that were formal and
polite as to manner. 1t was here that
Henry Walsh went, one night about eigh-
teen months ago, rang the doorbell,
pushed past the servant into the hallway,
encountered Mrs. Throp in her bedrobe,
and shot her, inflicting frightening but
not fatal wound
lmpenetrable mystery has surrounded
this shooting case. 1t was not explained
at the time of the Walsh's arrest whv he
desired to kill the woman. 1t could not
be learned that there had been any intima-
CIV. or even acquaintance. between the two.
Both declined to explain. She would not
appear in court against him, and occult
influences apparently stood between the
prisoner and prosecution. The most that
he has ever told about his crime is that
Mrs. Thorp was making trouble for her
sons in whom he was deeply concerned,
and that, under the excitement of drink,
he deemed it his duty to wreak vengeance.
AT length the district attorney has ar
raigned him in court whereupon he plead
ed guilty of telonious assault, and the
judge, instead of imprisoning him, inn
posed fine of $1,000. No certainty can
be gained as to who are concerned in the
suppression of the facts. Several names
have been given. but without just warrant.
The money to pay Walsh's fine came from
the wallet of Mrs. Throp. Its prior
source is a secret.