The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-04
A DIVORCE
 IS WANTED Countess of Yarmouth Begins Proceedings SEPARATION NOT UNEXPECTED Trial of Harry Thaw Caused the
 Trouble. The Countess Was Formerly Miss Alice Thaw of Pittsburg. and She Was
 Very Popular In
 Society.
SEPARATION NOT UNEXPECTED

London. Jan. 3-The failure of an- other alliance of the English nobii- tty with an American woman of wealth, became public this afternoon, when the Countess of Yarmouth. who was Alice Thaw, of Pittsburg, a daughter of Mrs. William Thaw and sister of Harry K. Thaw, whose second trial for the murder of Stanford White will begin next Monday in New York City. applied to the divorce court for an annullment of her marriage to the 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 public hearing inad- visabIe.
 The Countess of Yarmouth is staying at Park Hall. near Evesham, Worces- tershire, magnificent country seat shc has leased, decorated and refurnished with lavish expenditure. She declines to comment on the case. The Earl ot 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.
 It has been well known for two years that the domestic affairs of the Yarmouths were most unhappy. The Earl's companions and his manner Of living were such that he could not give his wife the position in society she had a right to expect. She supplied immense sums to defray her husbands extravagances and her friends say she is conducting herself with dignity throughout the troubles resulting In the unhappy marriage and her brothers difficulties.
 Proud Family.
 The Hertford family. the head of which Is the Earl of Yarmouth's father and to the head of which the Earl is heir. he being the eldest son of the sixth Marquis of Hertford, is one of the oldest and proudest of the British nobility. The noteriety brought on the family through its indirect connection with the Thaw murder case. was gall ing, and this climax to. the eldest sons marriage to Alice Thaw is a bitter bill. The Marchioness of Hertford. who has stood by her daughter -tn-law throughout her troubles, and has ex- erted 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 atter the divorce proceedings, but the -Coun tess desires to return to the United States for her brothers second trial, and is undecided which course she will pursue.
 Last summer, 4on the advice of Mfr. and Mrs Lauder Carnegie. her brother in-law and sister who were with her two months, the Countess decided 10 seek the aid of the divorce courts It was intended to defer this action Nuntil the second Thaw trial in New York, but the delay in bringing the case to trial led to a change of plans.
 Before Harry K. Thaw shot stan ford White in New York, thus bringing on the family of the Earl of Yarmouth that notoriety which Is so distastetui to the English nobility, there were ru- mors that the couple were leading an unhappy life, but the action 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 decid- ed to treat his wife more kindly
 Attends Brothers Trial.
 Then came the decision of the Coun- tess to go to New York and attend the trial of her brother. It was said at the time that the Earl had agreed that this was the proper course to follow. but it was noticed that he left Tor Southern Europe before his wife sailed for America, and while the Countess was in deep trouble, he was enjoying the gay life or Monte Cario anu otiS. resorts When the Countess returned to England after the trial of her brother. she received cold reception moi only from the Earl, but from all inc members of his family except 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 or the marriage to the Earl. Is not stated m tba napers thus far filed with the court, hui there has been much talk of the Earl's doings on the continent. where lss sna,ds tbe greater part of his time.