Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-12-11

sit up and take notice. Her personal
charm, as well as the size of her for
tune, completely turned his head.
With this handsome woman for wife
and her money at his command, he
thought, there was no telling how far
he might rise in the social scale.
Mindful of the duke of Braganza'S
coup in carrying off the wealthy and
charming Anita Stewart, he did not
hesitate to try his luck; with his
proud name to back him success SEEM
ed assured.
But Mrs. Leeds, too. had a good
memory. She recalled the sad expe-
riences of Anna Gould, the countess
of Yarmouth and others. So she very
promptly said him nay.
Society here and abroad has taken
very keen interest in Mrs. Leeds
doings ever since her marriage to Will
liam Bateman Leeds in 1901. 1t was
the old story of the man who became
a millionaire and then decided that
he must cast aside his first wife for
companion better fitted to help him
spend his money and attain social sue
cess
He was born in the small town of
Richmond, Ind, in 1861. His parents
were poor, but he had ambition.
While earning his living as a florist.
he found time to study civil engineer
ing. At the age of 81 he started his
| railroad career as a helper in a field
corps of the Pennsylvania railroad.
Rise to High Position.
BY hard work he earned his way
| to a position of general superintend-
ent in a few years, thus gaining the
practical experience in railroading
which later stood him in good stead.
He had married, in 1888, Miss jean
| nette Goar of his home town, who
possessed a comfortable fortune in
/ her own right. He was then but %
| years old.
| For some time, as superintendent
of the Logansport division of the
| Pennsylvania railroad, Mr. Leeds had
watched the progress of the tinplate
industry The field looked very good
to him; so, in 1895, with D. G. Reid as
a partner, he acquired a plant at Ell
wood, Ind.
| The business grew so rapidly that
he had to give up railroading entirely
to handle it, as president of his com
pany In 1898 he organized the Ameri
can Tinplate Company, commonly
known as the Tinplate trust, with a
| string of plants in various cities. His
| faculty for organization and executive
| work was remarkable. At the forma
| ton of the United States Steel Com
| pany Leeds and his associates sold
| out to them at a profit of about SAC.
| 100000
With the proceeds of the deal they
bought heavily in Rock Island rail
way stock, rapidly absorbing the ma
| jority of it, and in a short time Mr.
Leeds found himself president of his
| road This office he held from 1901
until 1906, when he resigned from &C
| tive connection with the system.
Met His Affinity.
When Leeds first became deeply en-
crossed in business affairs he and his
wife gradually drifted apart. His in
terests required his presence in the
east most of the time and his wife
preferred to remain at home.
In 1900 he met the fascinating Mrs
Mamie Stewart Worthington, and i'm
mediateIy decided that she was his af
finity She was the daughter of 6
wealthy Cleveland banker and had JUS
obtained a divorce from her first hus
band, George E. Worthington.
Mr. Leeds Immediately became hope
lessly infatuated with the beautiful di
vorcee. He notified his wife that ht
had found his ideal and offered to hand
her 81 ,0eO, 900 in cold cash if she would
institute divorce proceedings agains
him, so that he might be free to wee
the fair charmer. Mrs. Leeds accepted
| and entered suit in a western court OF
the ground of desertion, as Mr.. Iced.
had not lived with her for about fiv,
years
Mr.. Leeds lost no time Three day.
after his first wife was granted he
, decree, Mrs. Mamie May Stewar
Worthington moved into her place
| The ceremony, which was celebrated
at the Stewart home in Cleveland, wa.
most lavish AS wedding presen
Mr.. Leeds gave his bride about 81 900
600 worth of jewels, princely 50 900
600 mansion on upper Fifth avenue
New York, and an ocean yacht sal,
, to be worth another $1,000, 0OO Tn
/ jewels included a pearl necklace val
t ued at $4,000, diamond necklace
worth S50.0U0, and a $1,000 damon,
ring AS If this were not enough, h
threw in $4,000 ermine coat and ,