Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-14

gift OF William Bateman Leeds, for
merly of Chicago, of a magnificent
string of jeweled presents to his bride
in Cleveland was not the most costly
part of his second marriage. To OBJ
tain freedom from his former wife to
marry Mamie May Stewart he is said
to have given jeanette Irene Leeds
$1,000000 in bonds and stock. The
former Mrs. Leeds knew that her hus-
band was engaged to the dashing di-
vorcee of Cleveland, but to his entreat-
les that he be freed from the VOWS he
assumed seventeen years ago in lit
tie Indiana town the first Mrs. Leeds
replied with a sneer and a smile.
He threatened to go into court him
ed and said Co but he did not CO.
For five years he had not lived with
his wife. Why they separated is a Sc
cret that both have kept. Friends
guessed it but Mrs. Leeds said nothing.
She was absorbed in the education of
her boy, Rudolph, now IA years old
Leeds began an upward career in fin
ance and the speculative world. He
got on top in the tinplate industry and
controlled a number of the steel plants
that were absorbed by the plate COM
bine and became chairman of the exec
utive committee Of the pool. He was
all business until he met Mamie May
Stewart, the divorced wife of George
e. Worthington, of Cleveland The
woman is % and was married when
she was 16. Leeds is 45.
A Cash Consideration.
The first Mrs Leeds was approached
by her husband a month ago and asked
to name cash consideration to release
him from the bonds of matrimony.
She said, the story goes, $1000000 was
not too much for a man to pay who
wanted to marry woman half his age.
Leeds seemed to think his second love
was rated at a high figure. He tried
to "bear" the price. Mrs. Leeds first
declined to go into the dickering bust
ness. The young divorce of Cleve-
land was growing impatient and threat
ened to drop her wooer if he did not
make haste to wed her before the yacht
ing season was over. The yacht was
bought, trip to Europe planned, the
bridal presents ordered, and yet the old
marriage was not dissolved. The dar-
ing speculator, the chief of the tin plate
barons, sent 81 100000 to his former
wife, who was living at the Virginia
hotel, waiting for the acceptance that
she knew would come The day after
the transfer of the all the bonds and
stocks had been made she sought
George A TTude and told him she
wanted a divorce from Leeds.
what about the allmony?" inquired
the attorney, as he started to set down
a memoranda of the points involved in
the bill
Only Wants Divorce.
"That matter has all been settled,
she replied. "All / want of you is to
get me a divorce Mr.. Leeds wants it
quick and you cannot proceed too rap
idly. A fairer and younger woman is
waiting for him."
August LIST at II o'clock in the
morning the bill for divorce was filed.
Fifteen minutes later Judge Bishop
listened to the testimony of a middle
aged woman, quietly dressed. She
said her husband deserted her five
years ago. She knew of no cause for
his conduct.
The judge did not know that the
plainly-featured woman before him
was the wife Of trust magnate, and
he looked upon the case as an ordin-
airy one. The usual denial had been
filed by Leeds attorney, but no defense
was made in court Half an hour after
the filing of the bill the 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
be there, and she is curious to see her
successor.
Leeds bought his newer wife pearl
necklace worth sos, 000-one that excels
the famous string that Mrs. Jack Gar
diner wears. He presented her with
paintings valued at 100000. Her own
portrait from the brush of a European
artist cost SIS, 900. The buttons on her
yachting suit are diamond studded.
Her winter coat is ermine. The tin
king bought her a yacht.
spends 100000 on "a Bride.
His total expenditures on his bride
were 100000. The marriage cost him
$1,500000. For two years Leeds lived
in Chicago. He was regarded as
bachelor. A few acquaintance knew
his history, and wondered why his wife
did not share his success and his for
tune. 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
Fxxy7SrzrSxwz~zrrz rx Szaxyzxyr cy1zyzxxnvzSxz,ya