The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-03-13
MRS. THAW WANTS DIVORCE.
Will Institute Proceedings for An
nulment of Marriage-The Suit
Will be Contested.

ceeolhSS Lof the annulment or her
marriage to Harry K. Thaw. The ac-
ton will be based Oh the allegation
that the defendant was insane when
tho union was contracted. Thaw pur-
poses to defend the suit. The papers
in tho ease will be served some time
tomorrow and an early trial is ex-
pected. In the meantime the two, by
mutual agreement, will remain apart.
In official statements by counsel
Tor both parties tonight, was con-
iirmed the long suspected culmina-
ton in The welded lives Of Stanford
Whites slayer and the woman whose
story III his defense brought her an
unhappy notoricty as wide as the
reading world. For weeks it has
been gossippcd that divorce was i'm
mincnt and ever during Thaw's last
trial, through which his wife stood
gamcly by aim, it was pretty gener-
ally believed that whatever the, out
come to the prisoner, the two would
never again live together. These re-
ports were frequent, being based on
rumored opposition to the young wo-
MAJ on the part of the Thaw family.
In their statements toright, however,
counsel denied that Mrs. William
Thaw, Harry'e mother, had taken any
part m the proposed separation.
During today Col Franklin Bart
lett, counsel for the alder Mrs. Thaw,
made a statement in which he said
there was no truth in the reports that
detective employed by Mrs. William
Thaw had had her daughtcr-ih-law
under surveillance for months. AS to
a possible separation, Col. Bartlett
said:
"The matter is in chaos. There is
every disposition on the part Of my
client to be absolutely jrtst and fair
to Evelyn Thaw and 70 make liberal
provision for her support, and oven
more taan that. Harry *. Thaw has
sought Il reconciliation and has not
desired that his wife should leave
him, but she desires a permanent sew
erance of the marital relations. Any
thought of espionage upon the young
Mrs. Thaw would be abhorrent to
Mrs. William Thaw and has not at
any time been entertained by her."
Soon after Col. Bartlctt's inter-
view became public. a. Russell Pea
body. personal counsel to Thaw, left
for Mattcawan, where, since his las.
trial, Thaw has been confined in the
asylum for the criminal insane. After
a talk with his client, Peabody re-
turned to the city late today, and by
appointment met Daniel O'Reilly, one
Of Thaw's former attorneys, who IS
now counsel for Evelyn Thaw. The
conference extended we'll into tlra
evening and at its conclusion Mr..
O'Rcilly said:
"Papers will he served on Mr..
Thaw tomorrow by NE as counsel for
Evelyn in action for annulmcnt Of
the marriage. The action will be on
the ground that at the time of the
marriage, April 4, 1905, Harry Thaw
was insane and did not know what he
was doing.
Thought of for Some Time.
"This action has been thought Of
for some time. 1t will be tried in
New York county. AS yet no men
ton has been made Of any settlement
in favor Of Evelyn. IF after the
amulment proceedings arc through
and they are in favor OF the plain-
tiff, some action might be taken for
the recovery Of counsel fees and ali.
mony.'
Mr.. Peabody, who heard O'Rcilly's
remarks. said:
"Today I have visited Harry al
Mattcawan and told him Of the inten-
ton Of his wife. lie is willing to de-
fend the Suit.'
Mr.. Peabody added That his client.
when appraised Of his wife's intcn-
ton, had made no comment except to
declare that he WAS &anc ut The time
Of his marriage and expressed his
Willingness to meet thc issue.
Asked whether Mrs. William Thaw
was active in The planned litigation
Mr.. Peabody replied:
"N", she is mot.'
Mr.. O'Rcilly added to his formal
statement that Evelyn would lake
the stand during The annulmcnt pro-
cccdings and that several Of the mcdi-
cal experts who had testified at the
murder trial woulI also No ballad Ito