The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-04
COURT PROCEEDINGS
WILL Be IN SECRET
Earl of Yarmouth Has Not Treated His
Wife Right, According To Her
View, Since Harry Thaw
Shot Stanford White.

1oHuOn, january 3.-Ine failure or an
other alliance of the English nobility
with an American woman of wealth be-
came public this afternoon when the
Countess of Yarmouth who was Alice
Thaw of Pittsburg, a daughter of Mrs.
William Thaw, and a sister of Harry K.
Thaw, whose second trial for murder of
Stanford White will begin next Monday
in New York city, applied to the divorce
court for an annulment of her marriage
to he Earl of Yarmouth.
The court has ordered that the pro-
ceedings be held in camera and the
papers are being kept secret. The only
inkling obtainable of the charges pre-
ferred is a statement to the effect that
the nature of the medical evidence to be
given makes a public hearing inadvisa-
BILE.
The Countess of Yarmouth is staying at
Park Hail. near Evesham, Worcester
shire, magnificent seat she has leased,
decorated and refurnished with lavish
the case. The Earl of Yarmouth could
not be found in his usual London haunts
tonight and 1t is supposed he is on the
continent, where he spends much of his
time.
Yarmouths Unhappy.
1t has been well known for two years
that the domestic affairs of the Yar-
mouths were most unhappy. The Earls
companions, and his manner of living
were such that he could not give his
wife the position in society she had the
right to expect. She supplied funds to de-
fray her husbands extravagances and
her friends say she has conducted herself
with dignity throughout the troubles re-
sulting from the unhappy marriage and
her brothers difficulties.
The Hertford family the head of which
is the Earl of Yarmouth's father and to
the head of which the Earl Is heir, being
the eldest son of the sixth Marquis of
Hertford, is one of the Oldest and proud
est of the British nobility. The notori-
ETY. brought on the family through Its
indirect connection with the Thaw mur-
der case was CALLING and this climax to
the eldest sons marriage to Alice Thaw IS
a bitter pill The Marchioness of Hert-
ford, who has stood by her daughter-in-
law throughout her troubles and has
exerted herself to reconcile the couple,
Is prostrated with grief The Countess,
herself has suffered from the strain Of
the past year. Her friends advised her to
remain in England until after the divorce
proceedings, but, the Countess desires to
return to the United States for her
brothers trial and is undecided which
course she will pursue.
Last summer, on the advice of Mr.. and
Mrs George Lauder Carnegie, her broth
er-in-law and sister, who were with her
two months, the Countess decided to
seek the aid of the divorce courts. 1t
was intended to defer this action until
the second Thaw trial in New York, but
the delay in bringing the case to trial led
to a change of plans.
Rumors Were Started.
Before Harry K. Thaw shot stnaford
White in New York, thus bringing on the
family of the Earl of Yarmouth that
notoriety which is so distasteful to the
English nobility, there were rumors that
the couple were leading an unhappy life,
but the actions of the Earl during this
crisis and his efforts to shield his mother
in-law, the mother of Harry Thaw on her
arrival and during her stay In England
led to the belief that he had reformed
and decided to treat his wife more kindly.
Then came the decision of the Countess
to go to New York and attend the trial
of her brother. 1t was said at the time
that the Eary had agreed that this was the
proper course to follow, but 1t was no.
ticed that he loft for southern Europe
before his wife sailed for America. and
while the Countess was in deep trouble.
he was enjoying the gay life of Monte
Carlo and other resorts. When the
Countess returned to England after the
trial of her brother, she received cold
reception, not only from the Earl. but
from all the members of his family, ex-
cept the Marchioness of Hertford, his
mother. and the couple have seen little
of each other since that time.
On what grounds the Countess bases
her claim for the notification of the mar
riage to the Earl is not stated in the
papers thus far filed with the court. but
there has been much talk of the Earl's
dongs on the continent, where he spends
the greater part of his time.