The Washington times., 1921-07-15
TALES OF DRINKING
ON M0DESTY STIR
ENVY OF LAWYERS
Wine. Women, and stateroom
Caresses on StiIlman Yacht,
Says Steward Murphy.


James A. Stillman's yacht Modesty
was the subject yesterday Of some
of the most important testimony given
SO far in the defense Of the divorce
action brought against the former
"Fif" Potter.
Tales OF the bankers champagne
parties. beforedinner cocktails and
all-night sessions on board the yacht
with Florence Lawlor Leeds were re-
lated on the witness stand by Frank
Murphy, former steward.
The name OF Helen" the society
beauty mentioned In one Of Mrs. Still
mans amended answers, was also used
by Murphy, who delighted in telling
the referee and lawyers in the stuffy
little hearing room OF the cool, pre-
prohibition drinks, and the two quarts
Of properly chilled wine that always
went with the dinners that James
A. Stillman and Florence Lawlor
Leeds had.
His tale Of these ante-Anderson
repasts became too much for the
! perspiring lawyers and Colonel Rand,
! jr.. of Stillman's counsel finally
broke into the recital with please.
Mr.. Witness, don't talk about those
things now"
But Murphy. with true Celtic hu-
NOR, jumped from the champagne
to the night that Helen came
aboard the Modesty.
What Steward Saw.
Questioned by John F. Brennan.
chief counsel for Mrs. Stillman, and
John z. Mack.s guardian ad Item
for baby Guy, Murphy said:
Mr.. Stillman and Mrs. Leeds
used always to eat their luncheon
and dinner on board the Modesty
They began their meals VIII COCK
tails, and two quarts of champagne
were always served. properly chlilea.
"One day as / passed sir. Stiil-
roan's stateroom a breeze blew aside
the curtain. / saw Mrs. Leeds Fit
ting on Stillmans lap. One OF mis-
SONS was about her. The were
rug.ing and kissing each other
soon after the Modesty was com
rnissioned. we took her down to the
New York Yacht Club pier off East
Twenty-third street. Mr.. Sullmnn
and a woman called Helen came
aboard. Stillman's stateroom was
forward, and the woman's aft.
They had lunch OF beer. sand
witches and champagne.
1.-The next morning Murphy con-
,inued with a smile, II saw that III"
stateroom aft. which the woman was
supposed to have occupied. had not
been slept in. The bed was all In
order Mr.. Stillman's room, how
ever, was all upset. In each OF the
pillows in his double bed there was
| an indentation. Mr.. Stillman anu the
woman were gone .
| Murphy also related how the first
night that the Modesty laid off the
New York Yacht Club pier at East
Twenty-third street, Stillman gave
dinner party to Mrs. Percy Rockefeller
his sister, and Mr.. and Mrs. John r
Prentice.
"The next night" he said. Mrs.
Leeds and a girl friend spent the
night on board the Modesty, Stillman
meeting them as they came over the
side and presenting each OF them with
a large bouquet of flowers. Mrs. Leeds
and her friend occupied the after
cabin that night" he said.
Liquor Served.
The night following was the omen
that Helen" came aboard. She and
Stillman left the yacht. returning
about midnight and started the Vic
trola and turned on the light ,esu,
fled Murphy. They also ordered
some chartreuse, two quarts OF wine
and two bottles Of beer"
Murphy, who proved the principal
witness today, was first employed by
James A. Stillman as valet at MS
home at 270 Park avenue.
The first witness today was sidney
Wilde, employed by the HerZog Corpo-
ration, the realty company that owns
the building at 81 East Elghtyrslxth
street, where the Manhattan love
nest" Of James A. Stillman was located
from 1917 until 1920.
"Franltlyn Harold Leeds"
He testified to having rented the
apartment to a man describing him-
self as Franklin Harold Leeds" and
whose wife signed the lease as "Flor-f
ence H. Leeds His reference was
James A. Stillman, president OF the
National City Bank. He produced
copy of the letter written by Stillman
In which Stillman highly praised
"F'ranklyn II. Leeds"
Wilde then identified picture or
James A. Stillman as that Of Leeds
and baby Jay Ward Leeds" and
also pictures of Mrs. Leeds"
Hamilton Phelps Clawson, assist
ant treasurer of the Marine Trust
Company, Buffalo, dealt with trips to
the Stillman estate at Pocantico Hills
on January 16 and 81, 1918. He is
Mrs. Stillman's star witness in her at
tempt to show that she and her hus-
band were together before the birth
OF Baby Guy, and to offset the non
access testimony produced by Still
man. He testified that on two occa-
sions DIR. Russell was at Pocantico
Hills.