New-York tribune., 1921-03-10
Stokes Files
Another Suit
For Divorce
:,
Announces Second Action
During Trial of First;
Failure to Eliminate Son
as Correspondent Cause
Names Wealthy Oil Man
May Try to Consolidate Two
Cases; Nurses Testify to
Activities of Cousin ''Hal''

The announcement that W. L. D.
Ansonia,, had instituted q new divorce
action against Helen Elwood Stokes
was made yesterday at the trial of his
divorce suit and her separation suit
before Justice Finch in the Supreme
Court. Mr.. Stokes instituted his new
suit because of Supreme Court Jus
tice Fords refusal to permit him to
amend his complaint in his original
action to eliminate ". E. D. Stokes jr.,
his son by former marriage, as core
spondent.
In this new case Edgar T. Wallace,
a wealthy, oil man. now married and
living in San Francisco, is mentioned
as corespondent. 1t is alleged that he
and Mrs. Stokes acted indiscreetly in
September, 1917, at Is East Thirty
fifth Street. 1t is understood that an
effort will be made to consolidate the
two actions.
Miss Sarah Jeanette Gates, trained
nurse. was a new witness yestc crday.
She nursed Mr. Stokes during an at
tack Of influenza. Miss Gates testified
that she heard the alteration that took
place between Mr.. and Mrs. Stokes at
their home early On the morning OF
New Years Day, 1918, which was
caused by the presence in the house of
DR.. Hal c. B'llig. dentist cousin of
Mrs. Stokes's mother. Mrs. Stokes had
gone out New Years Eve.
Billig Obliged to Leave Home
"At about a. m.." said Miss Gates,
"I heard the plaintiff saying: Helen. is
that you? I thought you were coming
home at 1850 Then Mrs. Stokes an
swered, We were invited out to sup
per-
II saw Mr. Stokes return to his bed
room after that. A few minutes later
was aroused by hearing him exclaim
Indignantly: What the hell are you do
ing here? l thought You had gone 20
the hotel.'" Shortly after Mr. Billig
left the house, said the nurse
Miss Gates also gave testimony SINH
lar to that given on tuesday by Mrs
Juhette Groeger, who acted as nurse
to the two children of Mr.. and Mrs
Stokes, to the effect that she saw Mrs
Stokes in her room attired in her un-
derwear, while Mr.. Billig also was pres
ent
She testified further that on one oc-
casion Mrs. Stokes adjusted her garter
with the door Of her room open, so that
tbC HQi &c COuiQ ScC icl, anu tldt VI 1.
Billig was sitting with Miss Gates at
the time. The witness admitted listen
ing in on conversations. Miss Gates
will be crossexamined to-day.
Mrs. Groeger vas cross-examined
yesterday by Martin W. Littleton, coun-
sci for Mrs. Stokes. She was asked
about testimony she gave that in Den
YER, while Mrs Stokes was living at the
home of her mother. she saw Mr.. Bill
<t, <1rfo l<,,1 ~. IL L
latter was deshabille
Billig Was Fully Dressed
81 was in Mrs. Stokes's room with
her, assisting her in getting dressed
said Mrs. Groeger. "The door was
shoes and stockings. Mr.. Billig opened
the door. She ID, 'Wait q moment,
but Mr.. Billig walked right in and shut
the door behind him"
"Was Mr.. Bil!ig fully dressed? o.
asked Mr.. Littleton.
yes" replied the witness.
What did Mr5. Stokes say? What
was said by either of them?
Nothing. She went over to the
closet and got something to cover he,
"a light kimono. Then l left her anc
went to my room"
Justice Finch asked Mrs. Groege1
what it was that fixed the time of this
occurrence in her mind. She said il
was the first time she had seen Mr.
Bilig enter the room of Mrs Stokes
when she was not fully dressed. The
justice asked the witness whether she
thought there might be undue intimacy
between Mrs. Stokes and Mr. Billig
Mrs. Groeger said, II thought they werc
kind of affectionate for cousins"
The witness said that one day sh,
saw the two playing cards. while Mrs
Stokes was sitting up in bed and Mr.
Billig was sitting on a chair bcsid
the bed.
Mrs. Groeger testified that some
times when Mrs. Stokes went out for
rsalk she would lock the door of he
room to make her husband believe sh
was asleep.
Mrs. Groeger admitted that she Still
was receiving $55 month from Nh
Stokes. She said that Mr.. Stokes agree,
to pay her this when she WIS leavin,
the employ of Mrs. Stokes. and tina
she was in bad health and expected t
leave the state. She said she was tol.
Il was necessary for Mr.. Stokes to hav
her on hand to testify at the presen
trial. The trial will be continued to
cay.
Brother Claims ROdv of