MISS THAW'S ENGAGEMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 February 1913, Page 6

MISS THAW'S ENGAGEMENT

SOCIETY SENSATION RECALLED. Tli« engagement is announced from Pittsburg, t.S.A.,oi Miss Alice- Thaw, the former Coi.nress ol Yarmouth, who. according t«> the Control is to many in tin* spring, Mr Ceolnvy \Y. Whitney, a banker. This announcement recalls two <•• tlm greatest society sensations ol' the last murder chaise against Miss Thaw's brother Harry, the Pittsburg millionaire, and her marriage, afterwards annulliHl, with the Ea~rl ol' Yarmouth (tww Msnqr-is of Hertford). Miss Thaw is a daughter ol the late Mr William Thau", a Pittsburg Millionaire from whom she inherited a iortmie of £200,001). At the time of her marriage to the Karl of Yarmouth ;n l<)03 she was considered one ot the most beautiful girls hi Washington society. A UINGLESS WEDIHNC.. Her troubles, , s ays the London "Evening News," started on the day of her wedding, when her two elder brothers not only stayed away, refusing to sanction, the terms of the marriage settlement, but expressed their disapproval in public in strong terms. The ceremony was performed with great magnificence at a Pittsbuig church, the. ring portion of the service, however, being omitted. In England, where'the new. Earl and Countess took up their residence, the Countess was noted for her originality and cleverness, but she was seldom seen in society, as she preferred

!•. quiet, retired life. It had been alleged that disagreements began to make themselves felt at the time when the Countess's brother Harry was put on his trial for the murder of Mr Stanford White in June, 1006. THE THAW TRIALS. The Countess was passionately devoted to her brother, and not onlv refused to believe him guilty, but went over to America to comfort him in gaol. Eventually, it will be remember, ed, after ;>.. prolonged double tral, Hni'i'v Thaw wn,s sent to a lunatic asylum, where he is still confined. Her devotion to her brother aroused considerable - admiratio- among her friends and acquaintance* In 1908 she petitioned, .he English courts for an annulment of her marriage, which was granted arlrr the hearing in camera. She then returned to live in America, and cook the very unusual step of abandoning her title, which she was entitled to retain, even in the event of her romarrviivr.. EARL AS SKTRT DANTEIL Her former husband, the Marquis of Hertford, when he w;:s Earl of Yarnnuth, gained some ; < ti>ru t/ a- -in amateur costume dancer. He first appeared nn 'tli.x -<ta.ue r,s a skirt dancer in 1892 at Pwi'i where he took tho place of a young lady who : had not turned up; and he has been in turns an author, actor, journalist-, sheen farmer, wine agent, soldier, dog breeder, and poultry farmer. His affairs were before tho bankruptcy court last year. He was at one time known as "The Dancing Earl," although he appeared on tl.e stage under the name of Eric Hope