New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-13
Mrs. Stillnlan
BegginsDivorce
Reply To-day
First Defense Witnesses TO
Center Attack on Finan.
cier's Alleged Relations
With Mrs. Florence Leeds
Referees Ruling Not Vital
Blow to Wife's Cause.
Her Attorneys Contend

pouGHKEEPS1E, n. y, July 12--
Mrs.. James A. Stillman opens her
.srmative defense before Referee
n.n;el J. Gleason tomorrow in the
svorce action brought by her husband.
Tho case OF the plaintiff is not rested.
nat barring the slender chance that
Mr. Stillman may be recalled to the
s.snd by his counsel, the defense will
king forward the first Of its wit
,ssses at ten o'clock tomorrow morn
inc. Mrs. Stillman will not be present
- This hearing, which will last for
three days.
The counter offensive will center on
Mrs. Florence Lawlor Leeds, her three
vesr-old baby, Jay Ward Leeds, and
heir alleged relations to the million
airs banker. The first witnesses to
NJ called will be former servants en-
Moved by Mrs. Leeds and notaries
nnblic who will vouch for the attesta-
ions Of sundry figures submitted by
the defense.
To Air Lives of Both Charged
The entire course of the relationship
charged between the banker and Mrs.
Leeds will be traced by chain of
evidence which counsel describes as
conclusive and searching"
Witnesses will tell the early associa-
ton of the couple and special emphasis
vii! be placed on the period before and
after the BIRTH of Jay. Nothing will be
brought to light the first day relating
TO the other correspondents named by
Mrs. Stillman in her amended answer.
Witnesses have been instructed to be
on hand, however, who will testify later
to Incidents relating the auburn haired
society woman known as Helen" and
the Scandinavian masseuse described
IS "Clara."
Contrary to report, Jay Ward Leeds
viii not be brought before the referee
at any of the hearings. He is known
to be living in New York State with a
nurse His mother is not with him
Guy Stillman, of the golden hair and
blue eyes, will, however, undoubtedly
make his own unspoken plea for his
birthright. He will appear with his
mother at the hearings early in Sep
tember. At present Guy and Alexander
are in Canada with nurse, while Mrs
Stillman and Buddy" her oldest SON
are at Lake Forest, Ill.
Despite the rulings handed down
yesterday by the referee, which are
generally conceded to be blow to the
defence, counsel for Mrs. Stillman are
entering upon their counter offensive
with the assumption of victory both in
the legitimacy and divorce issues. They
are not dismayed over the admission
and rolled oats and bacon" letters.
these letters be admitted makes our
ney to-day. ct takes away from Mr.
Stillman the slight chance he might
have had of appealing from the deci-
rendered in our favor.
1--WE do not fear the so-called Dear
est Honey letter nor the second com
they are in evidence or not"
Makes Light of Decisions
1HlS dutHOTlty CudIdCteIiZeu d.
ridiculous" the theory that the banke,
has proven his point of non-access
pointing out that only one side Of the
case has been heard, and that no action
can be judged solely on prima facie evil
dence
when we put our witnesses on, the
alleged Beauvais letters will be dis
closed as valueless in the legal sense,
continued the same attorney. "Take
too, the evidence of Mrs. Rockefeller
Nix. Stillman's sister. She swore thai
during period of time important il
the determination of Guys paternity
her brother was in his home every
night, at 9 East Seventy-second Street
There has been no evidence as to where
he passed his mornings and afternoons
however. 1t would be easy to riddle
testimony of this kind when we brine
on our witnesses. Neither Mrs. Still
mann or little Guy has anything t.
fear.
"Their case is as good as won. The
referees decisions of yesterday ar