Evening star., 1936-07-30
THORPE'S LOVES
Barred IN COURT
Daughters Nurse Testifies
to Affairs in Astor
Custody Suit.
ny the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, July 30-A nurse
maids story of DR.. Franklyn Thorpe's
four post-martial loves was set up
today against his charge that Mary
Astor, screen beauty. admitted having
a lover named George" before their
divorce.
No sooner had the Hollywood ply
sician filed an affidavit citing the
actress alleged diary confession Of
an illicit romance than Nursemaid
Nellie Richardson started her sensa-
tional disclosures from the witness
stand yesterday.
An attendant to the ThorpeS' A.
year-old daughter, Marylyn, Miss
Richardson was called in Miss Astor's
fight to regain the child's custody,
surrendered to DR.. Thorpe when he
divorced her Is months ago. The
divorce was obtained under threats
to "scandalize" her, the actress asserts.
Diary Entries Offered.
Supporting the physicians charges
that his ex-wife was person of gross
immoral conduct" his affidavit offered
diary entries which Miss Astor
allegedly wrote in February, 1895.
These read:
II love George and the least can
do is to save him from messy scandal.
Maybe I am being foolishly gallant.
but maybe also ! can do one nice
thing in my life.
For the sake of peace and respite
from all this emotionalism told him
CDR. Thorpe I would do nothing at
present My main reason for saying
that is, quite honestly, I want to be
able to see George for the rest Of
his stay here without being all upset
then when he has left town I can
start in again. I must go through
with this.
Later on can move TO have the
custody (of Marylyn) changed over to
me. It would be very hard for him
CDR. Thorpe) TO bring up an old affair
against me-"
Nurse Placed on Stand.
To show that DR.. Thorpe's conduct.
since the divorce, has not been gauged
to the best interests of the baby.
Miss AStor'S attorneys placed Miss
Richardson on the stand in the second
session.
Did you ever see Miss Taylor IL
bed?" r. r. Wooley asked.
YES"
How did that happen?"
Il served breakfast to her and DR..
Thorpe" she replied in half whisper.
Speaking IN clipped, precise phrases.
the nursemaid said she brought break
fast for two on several occasions"
She fixed the hour between 8 and 10
O'clock" and closed with the recol-
lection that there were instances when
she found only Miss Taylor, and not
DR.. Thorpe in bed at breakfast time.
There we're three other women.
too she said. She named them;
Miss Betty Graf, otherwise un-
identified.
Mrs. Lillian Lawton Miles. who wa
DR.. Thorpes wife when he married
Mary Astor, the stars aaid-vits
charge.
And a Mrs. Madge Scofleld.
Cross of the nurse
maid did not 60 far before adjourn
ment came. 1t did turn up a few
new points.
darsh With MaryIyn.
She had told the court DR.. Thorpe
seemed to her to be harsh with
Marylyn, that he once spanked her
when she was unable to operate a
complicated toy in an intelligent
manner, and that the child was in
clined to be afraid of him. Her at.
titude i'll this respect, Miss Richard
son said. was different from the one
she had for her mother, of whom she
seemed unusually fond
Attorney Joseph Anderson Ieaped
on this point.
Didn't you tell different people
you thought DR.. Thorpe was a Won
derful MANI"
"Yes, I did" said Miss Richardson
softly. Il do think he's a wonderful
man