The San Francisco call., 1906-07-03
new LIGHT
ON LIFE Of
The THAWS
Married After They Had
Toured Europe To-
gether.
Ante Mortem Statement
Of Valet Reaches
Public.
Sorvant IT Tho Prisoner
Passes Away in
New York.
SPECIAL DlspArcH TO THE CALL.

NEW YORK. July 2.-All the mystery
surrounding the marriage of Harry
Kendall Thaw to Evelyn Nesbit was
dispelled by an ante-mortem statement
by William Bedford. Thaws valet, who
died today When Thaw and Miss Nes-
bit were returning from Europe to-
gether about a year and half ago the
cabled rumor preceded them that they
had been married abroad Thaw at
tempted to engage rooms for the young
actress at a New York hotel without
registering her as his wife and was in
formed that he could not be accommo-
dated. In another place ne secured two
adjoining rooms.
There were admissions of marriage.
followed by denials, and the final ac-
count was that there had been a pri-
vate ceremony on the other side of the
Atlantic and that the church wedding,
which occurred In Pittsburg, was mere
ly to satisfy Thaw's mother. who is a
devoted churchwoman. This was not
a secret marriage, but the first and
only one, according to Bedford's de-
claration.
After Thaws indictment for murder
in the first degree after killing Stan
ford White his valet was one of the
first persons summoned to appear be-.
fore the Assistant District Attorney,
Francis p. GarviA. There were many
matters In which the Wallets testimony
was deemed essential by the prosecu-
ton, as he had been in a position to
know about Thaw's actions for the last
six years.
Bedford declared that there had been
no marriage before the Pittsburg cere-
many Thaw and Miss Nesbit had trav-
eled together, Thaw taking his valet
and Miss Nesbit her maid, Nellie Leahy.
Thaw invariably registered their names
separately and always obtained COM
municatfng rooms. While they were
in London and Paris everybody knew
that they were living as man and wife
and they admitted tacitly that the re-
lation existed.
BEDFORD never carried any messages
to White and had no knowledge of any
having been received from him. There
were no communications Of any kind
between Mrs Thaw and White. as Tar
as he knew. The Thaws seemed to get
along very well together and did not
quarrel, the valet testified.
Thaw had the revolver with which he
shot White three or four months and
usually carried 1t. Bedford said, al
though he had not invariably done so.
He formerly had and carried another
revolver He was not In the habit of
taking drugs The valet saw him take
Mills at times with meals. but never
narcotics of any kind For the last six
years Thaw had not been IN any sanf-
tarium or institution of any kind and
had given no signs of insanity.
Private detectives will play a vital
part in Thaw's trial. as they will be in
a position to show that Thaw's hatred
for White was of long standing and
that he had resorted to unusual expe-
dients to disgrace him.
Positive allegations are made that
Thaw was willing to spend enormous
sums of money to bring White into
disgrace. The mother of young act
ress Insisted today that Thaw had Of
fered her $4,000 If she would obtain
Whites arrest by swearing that he had
wronged her daughter. As there was
no truth In the allegation the woman
refused to commit perjury. She says
Thaw made offers of large amounts to
anybody who could find a woman will
ing to make such an accusation.
All concerned in the case agree that
no evidence has yet been obtained
showing any grievance on Thaw's part
of later date than the legal proceed
ings begun against him by his present
wife a short time before their Euro
pean trip Thaw thought that White
had some knowledge of this matter and
had inspired the affidavit that led to
financial settlement out of court. This
suit is assumed to be the motive for
ing in the shooting
William K. Olcott, one of Thaw's
counsel. declared later In the day that
he would ask for an Immediate trial.,
as he believes that Thaw's health will
be permanently impaired II he is kept
in the Tombs all summer.
1t is likely that architects and others
will make some statement in the form
of a memorial for the purpose of call
ing attention to the many qualities of
Stanford White.
That there is no prospect of a speedy
trial for Thaw was announced today by
District Attorney Jerome. who returned
to town for two days to devote his per-
sonal attention to the case. Owing to
the fact that during the summer there
are only two parts of the Court of Gen.
eral Sessions in session and that the
trial would probably last two or three
weeks. the District Attorney decided
not to advance the Thaw case on the
calendar Thaw will hardly be ar
raigned before October.
The death today of Thaw's valet,
William Bedford. in the Presbyterian
Hospital from complications following
an operation for appendicitis removed
an important witness from the case
Mr.. Garvan examined today p L.
Bergoff a private detective who SAYS
that for many months he was employed
with three associates by White to guard
him and to keep watch on corps OF
detectives employed by Thaw Three
detectives employed by Thaw to watch
White for about six months were also