Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-06
Marriage Of Harry K
ThdW's Sister Annuned.
Legally Separated From Earl
Of Yarmouth by Court.
Decree Is Granted After Hearing
Half an Hour Long.

London, Feb. Sir Birrell Barnes,
president Of the divorce court. today
granted the Countess of Yarmouth,
who IVES Miss Alice Thaw of Pitts
burg. a decree multiplying her marriage
to the Earl of Yarmouth.
Tho case was heard in private. A.
the time fixed for the commencement
of the proceedings everyone not actu-
ally engaged on the ease was excluded
from the court room.
The case was practically underlined
and the hearing lasted for only half
al hour. The countess, attired In 81
fashionable black gown. was present,
but the Earl of Yarmouth was not in
court.
-Four witnesses only were examined.
They were the Countess of Yarmouth
herself, her maid. a doctor appointed
by the court ard an American lawyer
who proved the marriage. The coun-
tess gave evidence ~ support of her
allegation that the marriage had never
been consumniated and the maid tes-
titled that the earl and the countess
mad been living as man and wife. -Ac-
cnrdinS to the evidence of the doctor
the Earl of Yarmouth was capable of
concentrating tn" marriage. but coun-
sci for the plaintiff contended that this
did not affect the allegation that the
marriage had not been contaminated
and he pointed out 20 the judge that Il
was within the discretion Of the court
to annul the marriage if it was proved
that 1t had not been consummated-
The Earl Of Yarmouth did not de-
fend the case, his lawyer merely
pointing out that the evidence of the
doctor removed any stigma placed up
m the carl by the evidence of the
plaintiff and thai there We're no
grounds '-pcn which the countess
could have sucd Ior ulvorcc.
The judge pronounced his decree an
Mailing the marriage without comment.
In the ordinary course of events il
will be made absolute in six months.
No mention was made OF marriage
settlement and it was learned from
an authoritative source that contrary
to certain published statements. the
question Of revising the settlement has
not beer discussed by the principals
or their solicitors and that it IS not
likely tn bc discussed.
That the Fearing should be short was
arranged when the application was
made last week and the trial set for
today. counsel then undertaking not
to occupy more than one nour of the
judges time The fact that at Il coun-
eli of the family nj the Earl of Var
mouth il was decided not to defend
the action Of tie countess maze this
possible. THIS change from the previ-
Gus determination To contest the cas-:
is said to have been influenced by the
evidence given recently in New York
at the trial of Harry X. Thaw. broth
er OF the countess for the murder Of
Stanford White, with regard to msan-
ity in The Thaw family. as well as the
verdict Of the jury that Harry Thaw
was insane when he committed this
crime
The papers in the case are being
kept secret and all information re-
garding the nature of the charges has
been carefully withheld The state
merit was made. however, that the
character Of the medical evidence TO
be given made public hearing mad
visab,e.
1t has been well known for two
Years past that the domestic affairs
or the farmouths were unhappy The
earl's companions and his manner Of
living, il was said, We're such that h.
could not give his wife the place in So
ciety which she had 4 right to expcct.
Size supplied large sums of money to
defray her husbands extravagances
and her friends say that she has con-
Quoted herself with dignity throuyh .
out the troubles resulting from this
unhappy union and the difficulties of
her brother, Harry Kendall Thaw.
The fact that the countess had de-
cided to seek an annulment of her
marriage was made known here Jan
), when she applied TO the divorce
court for decree.
The Hertford family. the head al
which is the Earl Of Yarmouth's fla.
Their. to whom the carl is heir as cid.
est son of the sixth Marques. is .one OF
the oldest and rroudest of the Brit.
ism nobility. The Warehouses Of Het
lord stood by her daughter-in- Law
throughout her troubles and exerte,
herself to reconcile the couple, but il
YAM The family of the earl is mucl
oistressed at the notoriety brought IN
on II as result of the action takel
by the countess.
SINCE ner marriage the countess ha
mace her home in England.
The obi