Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-06
TsAH CASE PlAYEB ITS PART
Allebed Insanity of the Slayer Of
Stanford White Caused Family of
the Earl to Make No Defense,
Though American GlrId's Mother.
Law Stood BY Her.
lBy Associated Press,

mes, president Of the divorce court
today granted the Countess of Var
mouth who was Miss Alice Thaw. Of
Pi,tsburg, decree nulIifying the mar
riagc to The Earl of Yarmouth.
The cas-, was heard in private. At
the time liked for the commence
ment of the proceedings every one not
actually engaged on the case was OK
cluded from. the court room. The
case was practically undefended and.
the hearing lasted for only half an
hour. The. Counters, attired In a
fashionable black gown. was present
lat the Earl of Yarmouth was not In
court.
Only four witnesses wore examined
They were the. Countess OF Yarmouth
herself, her maid, doctor appointed
by the court, and an American law
Yer who proved the marriage. The
countess gave evidence in support OF
her allegation that the marriage. had
mover been con5u,nated and tho maid
testified that the earl and the toun-
tess had not boen living as man and
wife According to the evidences OF
the doctor the Bar1 of Yarmouth was
incapable of copsumating the mar
rlage, but counsel for tho plaintiff
contended that this did not AFFECT the
allegation that the marriage had not
bcen consumated and he pointed ont
10 the judge that u was within the
discretion OF the court TO annul the
marriage If It was proved that II had
not been consumnted q
Tho earl's lawyer satisfied himself
with pointing out that the evidence
OF the doctor removed any stigma
placed upon the Nari-by the evidence
OF the plaintiff and that there were
no grounds upon which the countess
could have sued for divorce.
The judge pronounced his decree
annulling the marriage without COM
ment. In the ordinary course Of
events it will be made absolute In
SIX months. a1
No mention was made of mar
riage settlement and 1t was learned
from an authoritatiye source that
contrary TO certain published state
ments the question OF revising the
settlement has not been discussed.
Thaw Casr Played Its Part.
The change from the previous de-
termination OF the Yarmouths to con-
test tho case is said TO have been
influenced by the evidence given re-
Gently in New York at the trial OF
Harry Kendall Thaw. btotlier of the
countess, for the fnurrier Of Stanford
White. with regard to Insanity in tbs
Thaw family. as we'll as, the verdict
of tho jury that Harry Thaw was in
sanc when he committed the crime
it has been Well known for two
years past that The domestic affairs
of the Yarnouths; wereSunhappy. The
rarls companions and his manner Of
living, II was said, we've such that he
could no, give his wife tho place in
society which she hadia right to ex-
poet. She supplied large sums of
money To defray her husbaud's OK
travasances. and her friends say that
she has conducted herYhlf with dig
nifty throughout her troubles.
The fact that the coiiitess had de-
cided dcirately TO seek an annhll-
nient OF hcr marriage. was made
known mere January 9, when She ap
piled to the divorce couEt for n de-
cree e. r.
me fcrtford family. thhl brad OF
which is tho Marquis of NcrtforJ.
whose heir the earl of Yarmouth r..
Is enc Of The oldest and prohdtst Sf
the British nclSlity. z
The Warehouses OF IIertroed stood
by her daughter in law throaghout
her troubles aud exericl herself 10
reconcile tho couple but in Vain
Alice cornelia Thaw, daughfei Of
the late William Thaw. of rittsburg.
was married TO George Francis; Alex
mder Seymour. Earl of Yarmouth. at
Calvary church. Pittsburg. April 81.
1909. The marriage followed 4 rath-
or brief courtship and stopped the
carI's stage. career. which had sbegun
in private society theatricals atINew-
port. ~,
The wedding OF The ,Eari d yp1
mouth aud Miss Thaw vas a notable
happening in Pittsbnrg. Mrs George
Lauder Carnegie, was matWn OF hon
ms. .f,d 0isio nh an ~ tsov o,Y- ,,rr.t H.