Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-06
EVELYN THAW
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dote and hurried her to the hospital.
His prompt action, doctors said,
helped her chances for recovery.
Neighbors said there had been a
party in the Thaw apartment last
night but the maid and Russell de-
MED this, although they admitted
Mrs. Thaw had been drinking heavi-
ly since New Years and had re-
turned home Monday with a broken
nose.
The maid said Mrs. Thaw asked
for glass of water about o'clock
this morning. going to the bathroom
she then swallowed the poison.
Among her correspondence little
was found to throw any light on her
act. Two letters from Pittsburgh
and signed Mamma" discussed fin
ancial affairs and another signed
Dick" from Brownsville, Pa, asked
her to apologize to ZAP for him. To-
night a telegram was received from
man at Atlantic City who signed
the message "Al Mcdonald" asking
Mrs. Thaw to wire him If she were
able. Later he called Mrs. Thaw's
physician by telephone to inquire as
to her condition. He intimated he
was a personal friend.
Miss Nesbit. who once before had
swallowed poison in New York, had
been dancing at the Moulin Rouge cafe
under six weeks contract when. her
New Years celebration began. Since
then she had spent much of her time
with friends at cafes, theatres and in
her own apartment and had contem-
plated leaving at once for Florida. Her
maid said Evelyn expected to go to At
lantic City for dancing engagement
after short stay in Florida.
For 20 years Evelyn has been almost
in the public eye as her former hus-
band. Harry Thaw. Her marriage to
Thaw In Pittsburgh In April. 1905, fol-
lowed a three-year courtship during
which the gay actions of the couple
frequently brought them into print
She was then about 20.
Her confessions to her husband of
relations with White prior to their
marriage were repeated on the witness
stand when Thaw was tried for the
murder.
During the long period of Thaw's in
generation, trials and other legal diff
ficulties. Evelyn lived quietly, the
Thaw family supplying her with mon
ey on condition that she avoid newspa-
per notoriety.
Thaw eventually divorced her and
Evelyn went to Europe to continue her
art studies. She returned in 1912 with
baby whom she called Russell K
Thaw. but after long litigation she
failed to secure support for him from
the Thaw fortune. She was devoted to
the child and fought to the limit to
establish him as the Thaw heir.
She then returned to the stage and
rose to fame as a dancer. her partner
being Jack Clifford. Returning from
European success she filed petition
in bankruptcy and her theatrical popu-
larity waned. A return to Europe was
unsuccessful. She married Clifford but
the ywere soon separated.
In 1920 Evelyn opened a tea room
in New York, but soon the rent col
lectors and court officers wound UP
that venture by evicting her. Broken
In spirit she tried to commit suicide
by taking poison, but recovered. Lat
er she gave a party to celebrate a re-
port that she had committed suicide
by jumping into the Potomac river at
Washington.
DR.. e. Thomas Brand. Mrs. Thaw's
physician, said in statement tonight
that a great improvement bad been
shown in the patients condition dur
ing the day but that she was by no
means out of danger.
Regarding the reason for her act,
DR.. Brand said Mrs. Thaw had stated
that it was mo ones affair but my
own. and added that the ethics of
his profession prohibited him from
giving out any information as to
what he had learned.