Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-02-12
Woman 0 f international
Notoriety Arrested in
Richmond Theatre.
RELEASED BY JUDGE.
disappointed Crowds Gather at The
atre and pclice Court Anxious to
Get Glimpse of Mrs. Thaw.

Rlchmond, Feb, l2-Aftcr hearing
a dozen or more witnesses for the
prosecution and defense, Police Justice
Crutchfe!d last night at Cos o'clock
held that there was no law uni her
which Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, wife
Of the slayer of Stanford White,
could be prohibited from appearing
on the stage of the Academy Of Music
and he promptly dismissed the charge
that her public performance was ar
Outrage to public decency and de-
triment to public morals. The re-
suit was that Mrs. Thaw appeared
last night at the Academy, and her
appearance was witnessed by an au-
dience which taxed the capacity of
the house.
Despite the notification by Mayor
George .Ainslie that the appearance
OF Mrs. Thaw would be prohibiteo.
the management of the Academy at
the matinee yesterday directed Mrs.
Thaw to carry out her performance.
At the conclusion of her first dance,
which ended at 3:40 O'Clock she was
arrested by Chief Of Police Werner,
who had gone to the playhoue armed
with warrant he had sworn out be-
lore Magistrate J. A. Purdle. 1t
charged that she did "anlawfully ap-
pear in the Academy Of Music in a
play or public performance, thereby
outraging public decency and to the
Getrimcnt Of public morals, and to tn"
great damage and common nuisance
OF all citizens of this Commonwealth. "
Mrs. Thaw had been on the stage
barely three minutes when Major
Werner appeared in the wings and
signalled her to stop. The curtain
was lowered, and Major Werner eros
.ssd the stage to where she awaited
him He accompanied her to her
,dressing-room and there formally
placed her under arrest. after read
ing the warrant to her. Major Wer-
.ner promptly paroled fer in the Gus
tod,- of her counsel, H. NJ. Smith, Jr.
and Allen G. Collins, for her appear
,nco before Justice Cruthfield at i
o'clock.
MANY in the audience, of usual mat
inee proportions, were aware tha'
Mrs. Thaw had been taken In CUSTODY
and flocked to the Stage entrance
under the impression that she would
be brought out and taken to a police
station in patrol wagon. Iheii
numbers were greatly swelled by cur
ious persons who had congregated
about the playhouse, but all were dis
annointed when Mrs. Thaw did not
come out escorted by officers OF the
aw
Al 4 o'clock Messrs Smith and Col
Inns representing Mrs. Thaw, went
n Police Court, and in few mihu'
toe the small courtroom was htled
with hundreds of men anxious to get
a glimpse of the most taiked-ot WON
an in America" They were dis
appointed however, for Mrs. Ihaw
did not appear. She was represented
by her attorneys ana remained at hei
hotel while her case was being hearu'
The DECISION Of the court was 1ol'
lowed by some applause and a num-
ber took opportunity to shake the
Judges hands on their way out.
Norfolk, Feb. 12-Harvey NJ. Dick
son, chairman of the Police Commit
tee of the Board of Control, stated
that there would be no interterence
on the part of the city authorities
with the performance of Mrs. Evelyr
Thaw as long as the performance Is
not an immoral one. The advetlseo
reputation of the principal will not be
considered. This decision was reach
ed after consultation with the City
Attorney following a protest from The
Methodist ministers.
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