Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-13

Made His Fortune In Tin Plate
Industry.
Was Business Associate OF Akron
Capitalists.

Capitalists
william B. Leeds, who recently at
tractcd general attention by marrying
Nonnie May Stewart Worthington of
Cleveland, and by his magnificent gifts
TO the bride, is we'll known in Akron.
He was associated with Col. A. l..
Conger +. NJ. Atterholt, Col. Geo. I.
Perkins and others in starting the tin
plate mill at Elwood. Ind.
A dispatch from Chicago will he
read with interest In this city. 1t fol
lows:
The gift of William Batemdn Leeds,
formerly of Chicago, of magnificent
string of jeweled presents to his bride
in Cleveland, was not the most costly
part of his second marriage. TO obtain
freedom from his former wife to mar
nv Nonnie May Stewart Worthington,
II is said that he gave jeanette Irene
Leeds 81, ,OOO, 900 In bonds and stocks.
The former Mrs. Leeds knew that her
husband was engaged to divorccc of
Cleveland, but to his cntreatics that
lie be freed from the VOWS lie assum-
ed II years ago in n little Indiana town
the first Mrs. Leeds replied with n
sneer and a smile. He threatened to go
into court himself for n divorce, and
Mrs. Leeds said Go" but he did not
go, For five years he had not lived
with his wife Why they separated is
a secret that both have kept.
Leeds began an upward career In
finance. He got on top in the tin plate
industry and became chairman Of the
executive committee of the pool. He
was all business until he met Nonnie
May Stewart Worthington, the divorc-
ed wife of George u. Worthingion Of
Cleveland. The first Mrs. Leeds was
approached by hcr husband month
ago, II Is said, and asked to name n
cash consideration TO release him
from tho bonds of matrlmony, She
mentioned million dollars. Leeds
tried TO "bear' the price. Mrs, Leeds
first declined to dicker, hut finally
terms were agreed upon, II Is asserted
and Leeds sent 81 ,00o,OO0 to his former
wife, who was living at the Nirglnla
hotel here The day after the transfer
of all the bonds aud stocks had beer
made she sought George \. Trude ani
told him she wauted Il divorce from
Leeds. Never mind the nllnony,
she said "rhat matter has all beer
settled. All want Is divorce. Nj
Leeds wants It quick. \ faircr ant
younger woman is waiting for him.
August at II o'clock IN the morning
a bill for divorce was filed, FiftccI
minutes later Judge Bishop llstcnc,
10 the testimony of n middlc'aged VIC
man, who said her husband had d,
serted her live years ago She kncy
OF 40 cause for his copduct. No dc
Tense was made, and half an hou
after the filing Of the hill the deere
was granted. hat evening MR.
Leeds, the first, left Chicago for tn
East. She IL going 10 Europe with he
son. Leeds aud his Cleveland brid
are due In Paris In October. The 70
mer wife viii be l.,cre, and she Is cl
rious TO see her successor,
For two years Leeds lived In Chic
go. He was regarded as a bachelor,
few acquaintance knew that he WI
married and wondered why his wi
did not share his success ana his 10
tune She lived In seclusion In Indian
iu the town where she met him wht
he was poor and obscure. She stnrt'
him OH his business career, and h
price for his freedom shows that s
has not lost any Of her commerc
acumen.