New-York tribune., 1921-03-09
Nurse Says
Billig Kissed
Mrs. Stokes
Wife Also Received Her
Mothers Cousin in Her
Room When in Dishabille.
Mrs. Croeger Testifies
Asserts He Got Money
Husband. as Divorce Trial
Opens. Eliminates His
Son as Correspondent

After several postponemenes the di-
vorce suit Of ". T. D. Stokes 1orrle-
proprietor OF the Hotel Ansonia.
against Mrs. Helen Elvood Stoke, and
her counter action for separation,
came to trial Yesterday before Justice
Finch in the Supreme Court.
Early IN the proceedings it was an
nounced by Francis l.. We.lrnar. Of
counsel for Nh Stokes, that by mutual
consent w f. d. Stokes ir, son Of the
plaintiff BY prios marriage, had been
eliminated from the case as one o.
several spondents named by his
father. Mr.. Stokes had made allega
tons that his son had written con-
,essioA OF his rels tions with his step-
mother.
Husband and wife, whose Quarrels.
covering period Of severa; years have
been of great bitterness, sat not far
apart in the courtroom. Mr Stokes,
grizzled man OF the world and sixty
eight years old, cast furtive glances to-
ward the fashionably attired, fresh
~onplexioned and self-posse essed Mrs.
stokes, who has not reached middle
life. but these glances we're not re
turned. Mrs. Stokes's mother, Mrs.
Miller, accompanied her to court
Former Nurse Testifies
Most of the testimony taken vester-
day concerned the alleged relations be
tween Mrs. Stokes and Hal Billis. one
OF the spOndents, Who Is c cousin
OF Mrs. Stokes's mother. but to whom
the defendant wife referred as her
cousin. This testimony was given by
Mrs. Juliette Groeger, formerly nurse
20 the two children Of Mr. and Mrs.
Stokes. She served in that capacity at
the Stokes home at 3l7 West Seventy
eighth Street and also III Denver,
where Mrs. Stokes now makes her
home with her mother. Mrs. Groeger
said that in the Denver home OF Mrs
Stokes she had seen Mr.. BilHg kiss
Mrs. Stokes and embrace her. Also. the
nurse said, she had seen Mr.. Billig
enter the room Of the defendant while
the latter was II dishabille Dwelling
on this occasion. Francis l.. Wellman
of counsel for Mr.. Stokes. asked the
witness:
What did Mrs. Stokes wear"
"She had underwear on" replied Mrs.
Groeger.
what do You mean by that" Mr..
Wrllman persisted
ooh. combinations. silk, whaseve. it
was. corsets, slippers"
Nurse Admits Alteration
Mrs Groeger. who said she had mar
riel a nachnist since leaving the IN
ploy IF the Stokes family, told of her
followed an alteration between Mr.
ard Mrs. Stokes over Mr.. Billig, said
tEe witness.
II told her was leaving and that I
couldn't stand it any longer, that
was nervous" Mrs. Groeger testified.
she said she would give me a
months vacation if l wanted it, She
begged me to remain, hugged and
kissed me and said: please stay
Il vas in her bedroom with her and
the door was closed. She said she
would shoot me # T said anything
against her character-unless would
get down on my knees and swea- to
take back anything I had said against
he. and Mr.. Billig. I said that l had
sal. nothing"
Martin W. Littleton, of counsel for
Mrs. Stokes, made vigorous objection
when Mr.. Welman, at the beginning OF
the trial, called Mrs. Stokes to the
stand as the first witness in the case.
This is an unknown and unheard Of
procedure" said Mr.. Littleton, whose
objection was overruled by Justice
Finch.
Photographs Introduced
Mr. Wellman produced a photogra ph
from suitcase Of papers over which
Mr. Stokes acted as custodian. The
lawyer asked the witness to identity it.
Mrs. Stokes said the persons in the
picture were Mr.. Billig and herself.
Her mother and his grandfather were
(csntinued en- pass eight