The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-07
WAS SECRET
Evidence Said 70 % Of Such Mature
That Public Must ~ SECLUDED
Earl Makes No Attempt 10 Defend
the Suit Of His wife.

AZ LA0 Llu1S UA0U 1OT the commence
ment OF the proceedings everyone not
actually engaged In the case was ex.
from the court room. The
was practically %undefended and
the hearing lasted for only half an
hour. The countess, attired In a fash.
ionable black gown, was present, but
the earl OF Yarmouth was not in
court.
The papers in the case are being
kept secret and all information regard
ing the nature Of the charges has
been carefully withheld. The state.
ment was made. however, that the
Of the medical evidence to
be given made a public hearing mad
visable.
It has been well known for two
years past that the domestic affairs OF
the Yarmouths were unhappy. The
manner OF living, It Is said, was
such that he could not give his wife
the place in society which she had a
right to expect. She supplied large
sums Of money to defray her hus-
extravagances. and her friends
say that she conducted herself with
throughout the trouble result
ing from the unhappy union and the
Of her brother, Harry
Thaw. The fact that the countess had
decided definitely to seek an annull.
ment Of her marriage was made known
here January 8, when she applied to
the divorce court for . decree.
4 HEREFORD With Wife.
The Herford family, the head OF
is the marquis Of Herford,
heir the earl Of Yarmouth is, is
one OF the Oldest and proudest OF the
nobility. The marchioness of
Herford stood by her daughter-in-
law throughout her troubles and ex-
erted herself to reconcile the couple,
but in vain. The family Of the earl Is
much distressed at the notoriety
brought upon 1t as a result Of the &C
ton taken by the countess.
Since her marriage the countess has
made her home in England.
Only four witnesses were examined.
They were the countess OF Yarmouth,
her maid, the doctor appointed by the
court and an American lawyer, who
the marriage. The countess
gave evidence in support Of her allie
that the marriage had never
been consummated, and the maid tas-
lifted that the earl and countess had
not been living as nan and wife. Ac-
to the evidence Of the doctor
The earl Of Yarmouth was capable Of
communicating the marriage. but
counsel for the plaintiff contended!
that this did not affect the allegation
hat the. marriage had not been con
and he pointed out to the
Jury that It was within the discretion
81 the court to annul the marriagei II
It were proven that It had not been.
contaminated.
Marriage Annutled.
The earl Of Yarmouth did not de-
END the case. his lawyers satisfying
that the evidence OF the
removed any stigma placed on
he earl BY the evidence Of the plain
III, and there raj no grounds on
which the countess could, have sued
or divorce. The Judge pronounced.
,is decree ,%annulling the marriage
comment. In the ordinary
of events it will be. made alb
,olute in six months.
No mention was made Of a mar
.iage settlement, and it was learned
rom an authoritative source that,
contrary to certain published state
nents, the question Of revising the
has not been discussed by
he principals or their solicitors and
hat 1t Is not likely to be discussed.
rhe brevity Of the proceedings came
q surprise to everybody except
hose engaged In the case. That the
learing should be short was arranged
yhen the application was made last
week. The fact that counsel Of the
,arl OF Yarmouth decided not to con-
est the allegation Of the countess
made this possible.
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