Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-05

earl is much distressed at the notoriety
| brought upon it as a result OF the action
! taken by the countess.
Since her marriage the countess has
made her home in England.
Evidence in Court.
| Only four witnesses were examined.
| They were the Countess of Yarmouth
! herself. her maid, a doctor appointed by
the court. and an American lawyer who
proved the marriage :, The countess gave
evidence in support of her allegation that
| the marriage had never been consum-
mated and the maid testified that the earl
and the countess had been living as man
| and wife.
According to the evidence of the doctor
the Earl of Yarmouth was capable of con-
summarizing the marriage. but counsel for
the plaintiff contended that this did not
affect the allegation that the marriage had
not been contaminated. and he pointed
out to the judge that it was within the
discretion of the court to annul the mar
riage If it was proved that it had not
been cOnSummated.
The Earl of Yarmouth did not defend
the case. his lawyer satisfying himself
with pointing out that the evidence of the
doctor removed any stigma placed upon
the earl 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 an
nulling the marriage without comment.
In the ordinary cOurse Of events it will
be made absolute in six months.
No mention was made of marriage
! settlement. and 1T was learned from an
authoritative source that contrary to GER
tain published statements the question Of
revising the settlement has not been dis
cuSsed by the principals or their solicitors
and that it is not likely to he discussed.
! n nf ft1a 1tFnpr
. a surprise to everybody except those en-
gagged on the case. That the hearing
should be, short was arranged when the
application was made last week and the
trial set for today, counsel then under
taking not TO occupy more than one hour
| of the judges time.
Made No Defense
The fact that at a council of the family
of the Earl Of Yarmouth it was decided
not to defend the action of the countess
made this possible. The change from the
previous determination to contest the case
is said to have been influenced by the evil
dence given recently in New York at the
| trial of Harry Kendall Thaw. brother of
the countess, for the murder of Stanford
White. with regard to insanity in the
Thaw family. as we'll as the verdict of the
/ jury that Harry Thaw was insane when
he committed the crime.
| The earl did not put in appearance in
person. He was, however. represented
by his attorney, Newton Crane, while Sir
Rufus Isaacs. ". r. Barnard and Mr..
countess.
Alice Cornela Thaw daughter of the
late William Thaw of Pittsburg was mar
ried to George Francis Alexander Sey-
mour, Earl of Yarmouth. at Calvary
Church. Pittsburg. April -. 1903 The
marriage followed a rather brief courtship
and stopped the earl's stage career. which
had begun in private society theatricals
at Newport and had later been more or
less successful in a professional way. Tie
Countess of Yarmouth was present all
through the first tria, OF her brother Har-
ry n. Thaw. for the murder of Stanford
White. but did not go to New York for
the SECOND hearing.
The wedding of the Earl of Yarmouth
and Miss Thaw was a notable happening
| In Pittsburg. Mrs. George Lauder Car
negle was matrOn of honor and Lord I'd
ward Seymour. brother of the bridegroom.
was best man. number of the earls
relatives came over for the ceremony.
| The countess began suit for annument
January j last. 1t was rumored for some
time before that she intended to bring
suit on the ground that there had been
in effect no marriage. and it was said
| that the earls parents, dreading the
| scandal. were making every effort to pre-
vent her from taking such course. Suits
| for notification of marriage are in Eng
| land always heard in camefa.
The Countess of Yarmouth is the IA
vorte sister of Harry Thaw She is
twenty-eight Years old. Her marriage to
the Earl of Yarmouth took place April
-. 1903 in Pittsburg.
The courtship of the earl during the
| early months of 1908 was a matter of
wide public comment at the time. 1t was
! said that he first met and wOoed Miss
Elizabeth Thaw. niece of the present
! countess. but that Miss Elizabeth would
! have none of him, and that a few days
/ after he had been spurned by the niece
/ he began his courtship of the aunt. At
tina. time he was visiting Harry Thaw at
the Pittsburs home of the family.
Miss Alice Thaw was inclined to listen
to the earl's wooing. and after a few
days matters had progressed far that
When she went To Washington. {; few
weeks later, he followed her there. There
! came rumors of an engagement. then Miss
! ThawS mother stepped in with violent oh
iections. The Washington house was
suddenly closed M and Miss Alice was
| sent by special train TO the home OF
friends IN the south. On the same train,
Yarmouth. 4 fortnight later Mrs. Thaw
gave in to the inevitable and allowed the
enga cement to be announced.
The countess was presented at court in
/ June. 1905 and since that time has lived
, quietly, almost in retirement. She came
to New York last year however. during
her brothers trial for the murder of Stan
ford White. The notoriety of the trial. it
is said. has borne heavily on her because
Of criticisms engcndered
rI~ MarsIier u:11