Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-16
MILLIONAIRE THOMAS
TO WED POOR GIRL
FIRST WIFE WILL MARRY HIS
FRIEND
Romantic Marital Rearrangement Is
Rumored in Exclusive New
England Society
Circles

PEABODY, Mass, March 15.-Less
| than year divorced from his beautlful
wife. Elmer Thomas, the young Pea
| body millionaire, who married Eliza
leth Roberts, a handsome brunette
stenographer, ten years ago, and whose
shattered romance has for two years
kept him more or less before the pub
he is reported to be about TO wed
again-and this time, as well as the
first, to a poor girl.
Before even he wooed the stately,
Dark haired, dark-eyed Miss Roberts,
Elmer was attracted by the blond
charms of quiet, modest Human
Blaney, who, rumor now forcefully de-
cares, is to be the second wife of Pea
bodys richest young man, in spite of
the fact that many had believed Mr..
Thomas would some day wed Mrs. Min
lie Symonds, his wife's bosom friend,
who left her husband, Philip c. Sy-
n.onds, when Mrs. Thomas left hers,
and sued for divorce just as did Mrs.
Thomas.
Close upon the news of the intended
marriage of Mr.. Thomas and Miss
Blaney comes the report that Mrs.
Elizabeth Thomas, the divorced wife.
who has been residing at the Hotel
Westminster in Boston, is to marry
Philip C. Symonds.
Miss Blaney, who is the daughter of
the late Stephen Blaney, up to few
months ago was employed in the Of
fee of her brother-in-law. Charles
Odell, of Salem.
Must Be in Another State
Since her return on Saturday last
from a pleasure trip through Europe,
ii has been asserted repeatedly that the
marriage would take place soon. but in
some other state, as in Massachusetts,
ii would be necessary for Mr.. Thomas
to wait a year or SO longer. and that
tine couple would make their future
home in New York city.
In the meantime Mrs. Thomas is said
to be quite as happy in her freedom as
her former husband is in his new
found happiness.
Mrs. Thomas, after once applying for
a divorce, then making up and touring
Europe, applied for the second time last
March and won her decree on the
grounds of cruel and abusive treatment,
and he is said to have settled not less
than $50, 900 on the beautiful woman
whom he once worshipped.
The story of the tangled lives of the
Thomases and the Symondses, their
friends, has been a sensation in Essex
county social circles.
Suddenly one day in the early part
of January, 1906 both women lett their
husbands simultaneously.
Mr.. Thomas escorted his wife. VINO
was accompanied by his two small
children, boy and girl to the sta
ton in Peabody. kissed his children.
shook hands with his wife and saw
them all depart, including Mrs. Sy-
monds, for Ponomah, N. H.. where the
two women for a month or two lived
alone in the big summer home of the
Thomases.
Immediately Mrs. Symonds filed di-
vorce libel against her husband, alleg-
ing cruel. and abusive treatment. Mrs.
Thomas followed with suit after
brief interval.
Both women lived together on terms
If apparent friendliness and both men
met and dined together as friendly as
ever.
Mrs. Synlonds won her suit and dis
appeared from the eyes of her former
friends in Peabody.
In May, 1906. Mrs. Thomas and her
husband apparently reconciled their
mutual differences. and leaving the
children at Ponomah. in the care of
instructors, sailed for Eu-
rope.
Upon their return from Europe Mrs.
Thomas, with both children, took
luxurious suite at the Westminster and
Mr. Thomas went to live at Young's
hotel