Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-06-26
TRAGEDY IN ROOF GARDEN.


Square Roof Garden New York; per-
formance last night Stanford White,
well-known architect and clnbman, was
shot through the heart without chance
at selfdeiense. dis slayer, who was ar
rested, was Harry X. Thaw, member OF
wealthy Pittsburg family, whose sister,
Miss Alice Thaw, was married to the
Earl of Yarmouth q few years ago
A deadly ftud growing out of their at
tentiOn to the same woman Is said TO
have existed between the two men.
Thaw married Evelyn Nesbit, chorus
eirl. despite the protests of his family,
more than a year ago. The affairs OF
! the couple at that time were given wide
spread publicity.
Some of those who were at the roof
garden performance last night say that
Thaw came up behind White, who was
seated at the f1be, tapped him on the
shoulder and shot him before he could
rise.
White was member of the firm OF
McKim, Mead Il White, architects OF
New York.
Ii was the opening night for the season
Of the roof garden. During the second
act OF the performance, while comic
song was being sung, the audience was
thrown in.o CONSERVATION 10y three shots.
immediately afterward il was announced
that murder had been committed and
The audience was dismissed.
Harry Kendall Thaw is one of the
wralhiest young men of the country,
but has been known more for his esca-
pades than for any achievement in the
arts and sciences or in business, he is
son Of Mrs. William Thaw, and his
mother on becoming recOnciled to his
marrisge II Miss Evelyn Florence Nes-
bitt, former chorus girl and artists model,
is said to have settled upon him an an
nual allowance of $50, 900. There are
alleged to have been two marriages, Mrs.
William Thaw having insisted upon a
formal ceremony, which took place April
4. 1908, in the Third Presbyterian
Church at Pittsburg, and since that time
Young Mrs. Thaw has become a member
of that denomination. Under the tutel-
age of her mother-in-law she has also
endaavored to enter PIttsburg society.
The names OF young Thaw and Miss
Nesbitt were connected unplesantly as a
result of various unconventional acts,
notably in November of 1904, when the
pair were asked to leave New York
hotel because MIR. Thaw declined to reg
lister Miss N,sbitt as his wife.
The marriage Of the former model,
who had nothing but her beauty and at
tractiye ways, to young Thaw, was the
elimination OF a romance extending over
three years. by his lavishness of ex-
pendlures and his devotion to noted
beauties in Paris aud London, as we'll "a
in New York, Mr.. Thaw had attained
prominence.
He was much sought alter by mothers
of marriageable diughter', and the story
goes that a French countess was so over
come by grief because her charms and
title failed to capture the young man
that she retired from society.
BEFORE he met Miss Nesbit four years
ago Mr.. Thaw gave dinner in Paris to
a score Of the famous beauties of Europe,
at which he was the only man present. No
less than $50, 600 was supposed to cover
its cost, according to rumOrs. 1t was no
secret that his family earnestly desired q
union which would bring another cOro-
net into the family, but even when his
sister Alice married the Earl of Isr-
mouth the young man proved intFact'
able. He did not approve of that match,
and in that respect, as well as in his in'
latuation for Miss Nesbit, he stood out
firmly against his family's wishes.
Miss Nesbit appeared in "The Wild
Rose" and in "The Girl from Dixie" as
a show girl for a brief time. Mics Mes
bit was one of party that went abroad
in 1904, of which Mr.. 1haw was also 3
member. Dispatches told of the young
mans arrest while speeding an autOmo-
| bile in Switzerland with his wife. This
caused a report that Mr. Thsw and Miss
| Nesbit were married. Both denied II
upon their return to this country on the
same steamship in October OF 1904.
When young Thaw's father died be
left Harry only 81, 500 year, providing,
however. that the son should share IN
bis millions on reaching the age of so
But the mother and other members o
the family came TO the rescue and by
making up an annuity of $50, 600 saved
him from penury.