Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-12
A THAW DIVORCE.
Evelyn Nesbit win Bring Action
to Annul Her Marriage
with Harry.
ON GROUNDS OF INSANITY
An Attorney Upon His Return from
Matteawan Announced That the
Proceeding Would Be
Vigorously Fought.


New York, Mar. 11.--Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw Wednesday will institute pro-
ceedings for the annulment OF her mar
riage to Harry X. Thaw. The action
will be based on the allegation that
the defendant was insane when the
union was contracted. Thaw purposes
to defend the suit. The papers In the
case will be served some time We'd
nesday and an early trial Is expected.
In the meantime the two, by mutual
agreement, will remain apart.
In official statements, by counsel for
both parties Tuesday night, was con-
firmed the long suspected elimination
In the welded lives of Stanford
Whites slayer and the woman whose
story in his defense brought her an
unhappy notoriety as wide as the read
ing world. For weeks 1t had been COS
siped that a divorce was imminent and
even during Thaw's last trial through
out which his wife stood gamely by
him, 1t was pretty generally believed
that whatever the outcome for the
prisoner, the two would never again
live together These reports were fire.
Quently based on rumored opposition
to the young woman on the part of
the Thaw family. In their statements,
however, counsel denied that Mrs. Will
liam Thaw, Harry's mother, had taken
any part in the proposed separation.
Col. Franklin Bartlett, counsel for
the elder Mrs. Thaw, made state
ment in which he said there was no
truth In the reports that detectives EN-.
ployed by Mrs. William Thaw had had
her daughter-in.law under surveillance
for months. AS to a possible separ-
alton Col Bartlett said:
1.-THE matter is inchoate. There Is
every disposition on the part Of my
clients to be absolutely fair and just
toward Evelyn Thaw and to make lib
eral provision for her support, and
even more than that. Harry X. Thaw
has sought reconciliation and has
not desired that his wife should leave
him, but she desires 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. Bartlett's interview
became public A. Russell Peabody, per-
sonal counsel to Thaw, left for Mattea-
wan, where since his last trial Thaw
has been confined in the asylum for
the criminal insane. After talk with
his client Mr.. Peabody returned to the
city and by appointment met Daniel
oReilly, one Of Thaw's former attor-
neys, who is now counsel for Evelyn
Thaw. The conference extended well
into the evening and at its conclu-
sion Mr.. O'Reilly said: /.
"Papers will be served on Mr.. Pea
body BY me as counsel for Evelyn
Thaw in an action for annulment OF
the marriage. The action will be on
the ground that at the time Of the mar
rage April 4, 1905, Harry Thaw was
insane and did not know what he was
doing.
"This action has been thought Of for
some time. 1t will be tried In New
York county. As yet no mention has
been made Of any settlement in favor
OF Evelyn. II after the annulment pro-
ceedings are through and they are In
favor Of the plaintiff, some action
might be taken for the recovery OF
counsel fees and alimony."
Mr.. Peabody, who had heard oReit
'aruesday visited Harry at Mattea-
wan and told him the intentions OF MS
wife. He Is willing to defend the suit"
Mr.. Peabody added that his client,
when apprised OF his wife's intentions,
had made no comment, except tps de
clare that he was sane at the time OF
his marriage and expressed his willing.
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