Gertrude Käsebier on Wikimedia

Evelyn Nesbit was a 20th-Century Helen of Troy. Considered the most beautiful woman in America, Nesbit was taken from her husband by a jealous lover and, like Helen, this love triangle had deadly consequences. Albeit, far less blood was shed.

At least that's the basic overview. In reality, the story was much sadder and less sensational than you may have been lead to believe. For starters, we should say "girl" when discussing Evelyn Nesbit, as she was a teenager when her story started.

From Rags To Riches

Evelyn Nesbit arrived in Manhattan in 1900 with only the clothes on her back and her good looks. Nesbit was 14 the first time she posed as an artist's model.

Her soft features,and cascading hair made for an excellent muse. She soon found herself sitting for photographers, illustrators, and stained glass-makers. Her name became synonymous with beauty at the turn of the century.

Contrary to what you might think, Nesbit did not become a model due to a deep love of the arts. Nor did she come to the big city hoping to make it big. Her motivation was purely financial, as she'd grown up in poverty, constantly moving and working from the age of 12

Her career allowed her to support her mother and younger brother after her father's sudden death left the Nesbits penniless. Of course, this also meant that the sole breadwinner of the family was a girl barely into her teens. Nesbit's mother quit her job as a seamstress and became a full-time "momager".

Almost overnight, Nesbit became a superstar. Part entertainer, part pin-up girl, Nesbit was a mix of Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian. Women wanted to look like her, men wanted to capture her image. Either way, everyone had her image tacked up on a wall somewhere.

Stardom and Stanford White

Illus. in: Critic, 1895, v. 26, p. 329. on Wikimedia

Eventually, Nesbit tired of modeling and transitioned to a career on the stage. In 1901 she made her Broadway debut as a chorus girl in the wildly popular Florodora. It was there that she met the two men who shaped her future.

Stanford White was one of the most celebrated architects of the era. Not only was he already married, he was also 30 years Nesbit's senior. White was a Lothario with a taste for teen girls.

White quickly became obsessed with adding Evelyn Nesbit to his list of conquests. White established a caretaking, almost paternal relationship with both Nesbit and her mother. One night, when her mother was out of town, White invited Nesbit over, got her drunk, and assaulted her.

Unable to publicly shun White for fear of losing his financial support, Nesbit kept up appearances. It was then that she met her future husband.

A Husband Scorned

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Harry Thaw was a volatile older man man; wealthy, struggling with addiction, and prone to fits of rage. He watched Nesbit perform on stage 40 times before meeting her. Thaw's obsession with Nesbit likely grew from her relationship with White, who Thaw despised.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Nesbit divulged her assault to Thaw while the pair were on vacation. Thaw took the news poorly, physically and sexually assaulting her over a period of two weeks. In 1905, at the age of 20, Evelyn Nesbit became Evelyn Thaw.

Now that Thaw had captured the object of his—and Stanford White's—affection, there was only one thing left to do: take out his rival. In June of 1906, five years after the initial assault, all three parties met at Madison Square Garden.

Thaw produced a pistol from his coat and fired three shots at White, crying "You've ruined my wife." His concern was, evidently, not for his wife's safety, but her chastity. White was killed instantly.

The Trial Of The Century

The slaying led to what newspapers dubbed "The Trial of the Century". It had all the makings of a sensational story: big names, jealousy, and lurid undertones. Thaw was charged with first-degree murder.

Thaw was found not guilty, pleading temporary insanity. He was sentenced to life at a hospital, which he served in fits and spurts. After his release, he was charged with a second assault and incarcerated again.

As for Evelyn Nesbit. her career was forever marred by the trial. While she continued working in vaudeville and silent films, she was never able to recapture her initial fame. Like her husband, Nesbit struggled with mental health and addiction, as well as financial difficulties. She passed in 1967, at the age of 82.

If you thought your love life was messy, be grateful that your "body count" is only metaphorical (we hope)!