Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-12
NEWPORT NEWS, VA, THURSDAY. MARCH IL 1908

Comcident with the ncws OF the
bringing of the annulment suit comes
the positive assertion from Lawyer
Daniel O'Rcilly that the break be-
tween the couple. far from being of
recent origin. dates back to the mid
die OF the first trial of Thaw.
Estrangemcnt is Old.
During the first trial" said MIR.
o'Rcilly. something happened which
caused n decided GOODNESS between
Harry and his WIFE They kept up
appearances. but their relations have
never been tho same from that time
on. The trouble was over Il personal
matter and had nothing to do with
the attitude Of the Thaw family to-
ward young Mrs. Thaw.''
Mr.. OReilly would 10, diyulgc the
cause of >thc difficulties between tho
Thaws. but minated II would come
out during the divorce proceedings.
Evelyn Thaw has been contemplate
Ing the action she has now taken
ever since the jury acquitted her hus-
band on the ground of insanity and
he was committed to the insane asy-
lum
tN''NHtN MlS. Within; ldW re-
tanned LAWYER Franklin Bartlett as
special counsel for herself and son
in any proceedings that might la I'M.
dertakcn by the wife That the mo-
Their is working in concert with her
daughter-in- law is evident from the
fact the statement made By Lawyer
Bartlett today.
ANY statement that Mrs. William
Thaw is actuatcd by hostility to Eve
lyn is nonsonce. As far as Mrs. Thaw
Is concerned she desires that EVELYN
shall he treated with fairness and con-
sideratlon. Harry has desired Il re-
conciliation with his wife, but she has
declined to live with him again in the
event of his becoming free. She de-
sires permanent severance Of mari.
tai relations"
Upon his return from Mattcawan
Lawyer Peabody was met by Lawyer
O'l,cilly, and the two had long con
ference at the Hotel Belmont
The suit will be tried In the Su.
premc Court of this city" said
Mr. o'Rcilly. at Is very probable
that the testimony will be almost
wholly of medical nature, Alicnists
VIII he called 10 prove iouS contention
that Harry Thaw was inSNac at the
time of marriage. and9 there will be
testimony from those who were in
concert with him covering the pcrIod
Just before and after the ceremony
IL Is possible that much of tho testi-
mony that was heard at his last trial
will he offered"
Gossip Calls Proceedings a Rusc
While all the papers have bcon nj
cd and suit actually legun to scpa-
rate Harry X. Thaw and his beautiful
wife. 1t is current gossip around the
Criminal Courts building that the sui,
is simply n move to secure Thaw's
release from Matteawan earlier than
1t is possible under ordinary circum
stances.
Reports from Matteawan and Al
hany say the state hinacy commits
sion are entirely satisfied that Thaw Is
not really hopcleSsly insane. While
DR.. Fcrriss. chairman of the state
board of lmacy commission, has Wis 3.
tied the Mattcawan institution sever
al times, be has absolutely refused 10
make any comment on Thaw's condi-
ton. and IL is known that specitl re-
ports covering Thaw's dongs every
hour of the day and night. are made
daily. In view OF the great publicity
given the case and the strenuous cf-
forts of District Attorney Jerome 10
prove that Thaw Is suffering from Il
durable form of dementia, he has en-
Joined everyone connected with the
inatitution to learn the exact truth
While It is realized that Thaw's
troubles since his marriage to Evelyn
Nestit have been sufficient to unhal :
ance almost any normal mind. tile fact
that he did not indulge in one of his
outbnrsts Of furry when the news wa;
broken TO him that his wife had be-
gun suit for divorce is great point
in his favor.
Their Plans Complete.
Should the state lrnacy- commission
determine that the regular sixty day
period of observation was not sufi-
cient to enable them to render an in
toliisent opinion of Thaw's sanity. the
trial of Evelyn's suit for a divorce.
based on the medical testimony in
PRODUCED by tho prosecution at Thaw's
first trial that he was hopclcssly In
sane, and the evidence brought for,
ward by his own LAWYERS at the sec
ond trial. that he had been cratic ana
uncomfortable sicc childhood, would
bring the question Of his present sani-
~ sq'iarely before the court, thus talk.
ing it entirely out Of the hands of the
lunacy commission.
In case he was declared sane Mt lhc
l'me of his marriage The Young conplo
would immediately sail for Southern
Europe. whcrc they had long ago plan
ned TO live Whom ThnW wnr rnInn..l