Albuquerque citizen., 1908-01-09
ALICE THAW NEVER
LEGALLY BECAME
THE COUNTESS
Plttsburg Lawyers Say There
viii Be No Need to Annul
Marriage to the Earl.
HOW YARMOUTH BILLS
WE'RE LIQlJIDATED

Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 9.-'Miss Alice
Thaw and the Earl of Yarmouth
were never legally married" is the
startling statement made here.
Certain lawyers and attaches OF
the marriage license office confirm
the statement. While they admit
that the illegality of the marriage is
based on technicalities. they declare
that the English courts must see
there is no need to annul such a
marriage; that Harry X. Thaw's fav-
orite sister is a single woman and
always has been, whether or not the
mercenary and effeminate earl fnl-
filled his marital duties.
Besides, these lawyers point to
certain facts as proving that var
mouth has always known that the
marriage was not legal; that, indeed,
he silly made it so in order that
the separation of the couple might
be easier when he should desire II.
When the marriage license was
taken out Yarmouth went to the Of
flee unaccompanied Oy any member
of the Thaw family. The law states
distinctly the bride-to-be must either
be present or be represented by her
guardian or a parent The languid
Yarmouth seemed profoundly bored
while he answered the license clerks
questions and often asked, Have l
got to answer all this?"
He gave his name as George Fran
els Alexander Seymour, but he sign
ed the docket only with his courtesy
title-"Yarmouth." So the lawyers
argue that he never signed his name
to the docket, as the law requires,
and that the license was issued IL
legally.
Further on this point: On the day
of the wedding a clerk in the mar
riage license office took the docket
to Lyndhurst, where Miss Alice
Thaw signed it, The attorneys claim
this would be ample ground upon
which to declare the marriage void,
for under the Pennsylvania law a
minister cannot marry a couple un-
less the license has been properly
taken out.
Attaches of the marriage license
office admit that such lax methods
would not be permitted today. They
likewise admit that every one about
the office was so excited over his
part in the marriage of the wealthy
Pittsburg girl to real nobleman
that they did not take the precau-
tlons they should have taken.
on his wedding day Yarmouth
came precious near going to the AL
legheny county Jail instead Of 10 the
altar according to William J. Nor
ris, constable in Alderman McMas-
ters' office As it was. the noble
earl was in custody two hours while
the wedding guests We're gathering.
When some of the earl's English
creditors learned he was to marry
The wealthy Miss Thaw they trans
ferred their claims TO a legal firm
here. Under am old English law %
dcu.oT can be thrown into jail, 70
Wan is .u prison here now under
that Jaw. tn. lawyers TO whom the
elrls debts were assigned got
judgmyn, from Alderman McMasters
and /, was given 10 Constable Nor
ris 10 serve.
The earl had completed his hnau-
ciai arrangements with the Thaw
FANNY, which for time threatened
10 delay the ceremony, and was hur-
riedly driven to the Hotel Schenley
TO dress. Constable Morris was there,
but Yarmouth got past him and into
his room Finally Yarmouth, clad
for the wedding and accompanied by
A. d. James London barrister
came downstairs.
The Earl Of Yarmouth, l believe"
sali Morris
The earl turned pale and admitted