The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-13
81, 500, 900 FOR A BRIDE.
Price Paid by Millionaire Leeds for a
Change of Wives.


Chicago. Aug. 1s-.To obtain freedom
from his former wife to marry Mamie
May Stewart, VIM. Bateman Leeds is said
100000 in bonds and stocks. The former
Mrs Leeds knew that her HUSBAND was
land but to his entreaties that he be
freed from the vows he assumed II years
ago in a little Indiana town the first Mrs.
Leeds. replied with a smile and a sneer.
He threatened to go into court IN, himself self
said co. but tn he did not Co. FOR i've
years he had not lived with his wife.
Why they separated IS a secret that both
Leeds said nothing. She was absorbed in
the education of her boy, Rudolph, now
career in finance and the speculative
world He got on top in the tin plate in
steel plants that were absorbed by the
tin plate combine and became chairman
He was all business until he met Mamie
May Stewart, the divorced wife Of George
E. Worthington, of Cleveland. The wo-
man is % and was married when she was
16. Leeds is As.
The first Mrs. Leeds was appToacned by
name cash consideration to release him
from the bonds of matrimony- She said,
the story goes, 81, 100000 was not too much
for a man to pay who wanted to marry a
woman half his age. Leeds seemed to
figure. He tried to bear the price Mrs.
Leeds first declined to go into the dicker-
ing business. The young divorce of
Cleveland was growing impatient and
threatened to drop her wooer if he did
not make haste to wed her before the
yachting season was over. The yacht was
bought trip to Europe planned, the
bridal presents ordered. and yet the old
marriage was not dissolved. The daring
speculatOr, the chief of the tin plate bar
ons, 1t is alleged, sent 1000, 900 to his for
mer wife, who was living at the Virginia
hotel, waiting for the acceptance that she
been made she sought George A Trude
and told him she wanted a divorce from
What about the alimony?' inquired the
attorney, as he started to set down a
memoranda of the points involved in the
s'That matter has all been settled" she
a divorce. Mr.. Leeds wants it quick and
you cannot proceed too rapidly. A fairer
and younger woman is waiting for him.
August 1 at IL o'clock in the morning
the bill for divorce was filed. Fifteen
minutes later Judge Bishop listened to the
" dressed. She said her husband had
deserted her five years ago. She knew of
cause for his conduct
The judge did not know that the plainly
of a trust magnate. and he looked upon
denial had been filed by Leeds attorney,
but no defense was made in court. Half
decree was granted That evening Mrs.
Leeds, the first, left Chicago for the east.
She is going to Europe with her boy.
Leeds and his Cleveland bride are due
in Paris in October. The former wife will
successor.
Leeds bought his newer wife a pearl
necklace worth $50 000-one that excels the
famous string that Mrs Jack Gardiner
wears. He presented her with paintings
valued at 100000. Her own portrait from
the brush of a European artist cost $lS,
900. The buttons on her yachting suit are
diamond studded. Her winter coat IS err
mine. The tin king bought her a yacht.
His total expenditures on his bride were
$500, 900. The marriage cost him 81, 500 900,
according to the figures given out. His
friends say he is worth IS. 100000 For two
years Leeds lived in Chicago. He was
regarded is a bachelor. A few acquain-
tances knew his history and wondered
why his wife did not share his success
and his fortune. She lived in seclusion in
Indiana in the town where she met him
when he was poor and obscure: Some say
that it was the plainness of his first wife
that kept her in the background. His
second wife is not plain and will shine in
the front row of trust ma gnates' wives
in New York. His first wife started him
ON his business career and her price for
his freedom shows that she has not lost
any of her commercial acumen.