New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-02
StilIrnlarl Sued
For Divorce to
Relpudiate Guy
Wife Could Have Obtained
Decree Without Opposi-
ton Were 1T Not for
Child, Says Coun sc |
Case to Continue Into Fall
Defendant Expects to Pro.
duce Sixty New Wit
nesses Before Closing
From q Staff Correspondent

From staff Correspondent
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y, July 1.-The
motive that has guided James A. Still
| man in his bitter fight against his wife
was presented to-day in crystalized
form before Referee Daniel J. Gleason
at the closing session Of the hearings
in the dramatic divorce suit of which
the banker is plaintiff
His counsel made it clear through
the medium of redirect examination
that Guy alone was the object of at
tack, and that if it had not been for
the child Mrs. Stillman could have
brought suit against her husband with
out publicity or opposition. The de-
PENDANT was not present when Colonel
| William Rand jr. called Mr.. Stillman
to the stand and asked him a series of
questions which clearly indicated that
it was not animus toward his wife that
caused him to bring suit for divorce,
but the knowledge that he could not
attack the paternity of Guy were he to
allow her to sue.
Questions addressed to the plaintiff
showed that before he brought this &C.
tion he consulted his wife's attorneys
and expressed himself as being willing
to let Mrs. Stillman have divorce if
she wanted one. 1t developed that
when he learned later, upon consulta-
ton with his own attorneys, that the
paternity Of Guy could not be tried out
if the action were brought against him,
Mr.. Stillman decided to sue both moth
err and child. Referee Gleason over
ruled three pertinent questions bearing
on this point, upon the objection of
John F. Brennan, counsel tor Mrs.
Stillman.
StilIman May Be Recalled
The plaintiffs case has not rested,
but it is unlikely that he will per-
sonally reappear at any of the hear
irgs, although his counsel may call
him back for redirect examination
More witnesses will be called, however.
The hearing adjourned at 1 o'clock
to-day. The next session will include
/ July 13, ID and 10. There will then
be further adjournment of two
weeks, followed by hearings on July
% and 20. The case viii rest during
August and will be resumed early in
! September.
Indications are that the suit will
drag into the late autumn or winter
| Cornelius ]. Sullivan, attorney for the
plaintiff, said this morning that Mr..
Stillman would prefer to go right
ahead now with hearings every day for
| three weeks except on Mondays, when
i the referee is otherwise engaged. Mr..
Brennan jumped to his feet upon hear
ing this, with the remark:
"You have had a whole year to pre-
! pare your case; we want some time,
| too
Mr.. Stillman arrived at poughkeepsie
in great good humor to-day. He
locked almost jolly when he walked
with a care-free air into the Pough-
keepsie Trust Building by way of the
| front door. He fastened his steps
when the cameras were trained in his
direction and Mr.. Sullivan jokingly re-
marked:
whats your hurry, jim? Don't
| duck them"
The three questions by Colonel Rand
to Mr.. Stillman which were the sem
sation of the day were as follows:
Did you express yourself to your
wife's attorney before bringing this
action as being entirely willing that
your wife have a divorce if she wanted
one2"
Basis of Husbands Suit
"Did you then take legal advice by
counsel that the question of the pa
! ternity of Guy Stllman could not be
| tried out in any action brought against
you2"
"Did you, because Of counsels advice,
therefore, bring this action against
] Mrs. Stillman and Guy?"
Before Mr.. Stillman had chance to
answer any of these questions, Mr..
! Brennan raised an objection, which was
sustained every time by the referee.
"Did you then have the information
which caused you to bring this action ?"
inquired Colonel Rand.
II did not" declared Mr.. Stillman.
Cross examination OF Stillman by
John E. Mack which met with some
response was as follows:
Q.-Do you know a man called La
Fontaine? Ayes.
Odd you meet him in Montreal ?
Q-You were in the company of
Mr.. Sullivan? Ayes.
Q.--Was the question of witnesses
brought up? Al refuse to answer
on the ground that it might tend to
incriminate me.
Q.-Did you authorize the payment of
moneys to witnesses? Al refuse to
answer on the ground that it nigh.
tend to incriminate me.
Odd you authorize efforts to bride
witnesses? Al refuse to answer on
the ground that it might tend to in
| criminate me.
Mrs. Stillman was not present at the
closing session to-day. She and her
eldest son, Buddy, who has been with
her for the last two days, left for New
York this afternoon. He will be one
OF the principal witnesses when she
presents her defense. The opening
guns in her case will be fired at the
next hearing in July. Her counsel
expect to call over sixty witnesses
both on her behalf and that of Guy.
e,