Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-12
lST|LLMAN Wins
I OF 8 POINTS
Referees Decision Blow to
Bankers Wife---Letters
to Be Admitted
BAR DOCTORS TESTIMONY

Poughkeepeie, July ia stagger.
ing blow to the cause of Mrs. James a.
Stillman and her fair haired baby Guy
was given yesterday by Daniel J. Glea
son, referee in the divorce suit. Within
forty eight hours OF the time for open
ing the defense here Wednesday, Judge
Gleason rendered decisions which may
upset all the plans OF the lawyers for
the defense.
Nine points at issue we're before
Judge Gleason. In seven he decided the
contentious Of Colonel William r. Rand.
chief counsel for James A. Stillman,
should be upheld.
In rendering these decisions it was
necessary for Judge Gleason to deter
mine to what extent Mr.. Stillman has
proved non access to his wife during
the period In which she is charged with
inf1delity resulting In the birth of Guy.
The text of his decisions shows that up
TO the present he believes the plaintiff
has established his contention of non
access and, furthermore, Of infdelity
on the part Of Mrs. Stillman.
This may be entirely upset, however.
II is pointed out, when the testimony
case of the plaintiff has been introduced
up to this time. and Judge Gleason s
ruling that Mr.. Stillman has estab-
lished his case Is made only in relation
TO the testimony presented to date.
Referee Reverscs Himself
In one instance the referee reversed
his previous decision by admitting in
evidence the noted honey dearest" let
ter, said to have been written to Mrs.
Stillman by the Indian guide. Fred
Beauvais, CO respondent in the divorce
action. Judge Gleason had ruled this
letter out This letter. known as Ex-
hibit B, is said TO be the most damag-
ing OF the alleged Beauvais letters.
Exhibit c. or the rolled oats and
bacon" letter, which had been admit
ted until proved, is definitely placed in
the record by another decision given by
the referee. These letters are admit
ted in so far as they pertain to the
divorce and legitimacy actions, but any
direct or indirect declarations in them
by Beauvais or Mrs. Stillman as to the
parentage of the child are excluded.
The letters, in other words, may be
used to show the inclination for in
fidelity on the part of the guide and the
bankers wife, but not as direct proof
Of Guys parentase.
No "Stici Of Furniture
Equally important in it's bearing on
the case Is the refere's decision to nd =
init the testimony of Mrs. Percy Rookie
feller, sister Of Mr.. Stillman. as to a
telephone conversation she had with
Mrs. Stillman in February, 1918. In
this telephone call Mrs. Stillman is
said to have declared Mr.. Stillman
never came near her nor would have
anything 70 do with her. 1t was at
this time she is said to have made plain
that abe would not he a stick of fur
niture" for any man.
This testimony is admitted in the
divorce issue by the referee. but not
in relations TO the legitimacy action.
The only point in which Mrs. Still
man and her friends can take com
fort is In the refusal of the referee
TO admit the testimony OF DR.. Hugh
l.. Russell, Buffalo osteopath. as To
the conversation in which Mrs. Still =
man Is ssid to have admitted that
Beauvais is the father of Guy. This
and the decision upholding the exclu
sion Of all direct declarations by Mrs.
Stillman and Beauvais as to the par
entage Of Guy on the legitimacy issue
are the only victories for the de-
fendant in the decisions.