The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-21
STILLMANS PARTED
OVER LEEDS
Wife's Efforts to Win Him to
Europe and Away From
Girl Caused Break.
QUARRELLED A YEAR AGO
Chance Of Public Cleansing Of
Family Linen Is Now
Believed Slim.

Inc CIdDceS lildl tile HidTlldl lIlpu-
lations OF James A. Stillman, president
of the National City Bank. and his
wife. Anne Urquhart Potter Stillman,
will be reviewed in open court for pub
lie consumption have just about
reached the vanishing point.
The story on which the banker bases
his demand for divorce and the ro-
nance that forms the basis for Mrs.
Stillmans answer to his complaint will
be enveloped with the same secrecy.
1t is even believed that Mrs. Stillman's
prayer for increased alimony, for
counsel fees and custody Of the Still
man children, which Is scheduled to
be made in Justice Morschauser's
court in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday,
will not be heard. The well founded
impression is now that the opposing
lawyers will appear in court Wednes-
day and say that all these things have
been agreed upon privately and that
Justice Morschauser will declare him
self satisfied thereat.
But yesterday. from one OF the very
few persons enjoying the confidence OF
Mrs. Stillman just now, came a review
of her side of the story. incidentally. 1t
clears up several moot but hitherto
vague points In the story and hints OF
but does not disclose definitely the
existence of another woman besides the
attractive Miss Leeds. Furthermore. 1t
shows that Mrs Stillman came into pos
session of news that gave her to be-
lieve that IL was Mr.. Stillman's desire
to marry Florence Lawlor Leeds and
thus make eligible to participation in
the Stillman fortune Jay Leeds. the
baby who Mrs. Stillman charges Is the
child OF the former chorus girl by the
banker. Naturally. divorce from Mrs.
Stillman would be necessary first.
Furthermore, this review OF Mrs. Still
mans side of the controversy makes
clear the fact that Mr.. Stillman goes
no further than TO charge his wife with
infidelity and her youngest child. Guy.
with illegitimacy Mr. Stillman does
not name Fred Beauvas. the Canadian
guide, as being Guys father. Beau
walls is merely hauled into the affair by
implication.
However. this is the story:
II was back in March, 1a2o-just
about a year ago-that the Stillmans
decided that their affairs lacked suf-
ficlent sympathy TO warrant their living
together any longer. Mrs. Stlllman had
heard various and sundry stories that
associated her husband with women and
situations not wholly conventional. Mr..
Stillman was informed by number OF
his friends that Mrs. Stillman was GO
ing about seeking 10 get the promise or
these friends to help her persuade the
banker TO accompany her to Europe.
IL was about that time the proposition
had been put up TO MIR Stillman TO man
age the affairs OF the National City
Bank in London and Paris. Mrs Still
man made no bones about explaining her
reason for wanting to leave New York
for Europe. She said that she was quite
sure that under such changed conditions
Mr.. stillman would escape being the sub
ject OF gossip and would be free from in
auences that irked her.
Mr. Stillman became somewhat In
censed, the story goes. He went TO Mrs.
stillman and. In effect, besought her TO
devote herself 10 her own affairs and
leave him TO the pursuit Of his. Mrs.
stlllman vainly pictured the grandeur
Of the work OF rehabilitatlng charred
Europes finances. but Mr.. Stlllman was
not molllfled In the least degree.
Lived Apart Thereafter.
Then and there. the informant of
THE NEW YoRK HERALD says, the STILL
mans parted not to reunite. This scene
took place In the house In Pleasantville.
". Y. Mr.. Stillman returned TO New
York
So far as this person knows, neither
spoke to the other or purposely saw the
other since. What dealings there were
after that we're carried on through the
bankers attorneys. Nicoll. Anabel, Fuller
a Sullivan. IL In declared that Mr..
stilman began talking divorce. but that
Mrs. Stilhnan, pleading the cause OF
the children, firmly denounced such pro-
oedure and declined to acauiesce. She
ls supposed 10 have informed Mr.. Still
mans lawyers that from then on Mr..
stiiman might do as he chose no long
as he did not seek to abbreviate her
right 10 do likewise.
As Mrs Stfiiman and her baby Guy
were about to sail for southampton on
July 8. 1920. papers In the intended
divorce action we're served upon her.
The person telling this history OF the
affair says that Mrs. Stillman was wholly
overcome by the action. IL was 'the
last thing she expected" Until that
moment, she confded 10 friends. she
had believed her husband would follow
her on the next east bound liner. Hur-
riedly she consulted a friend on the
Olympic (the liner she sailed on) and
Continued on run Page.