Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-30
WON
MAKE REPLY To
MANY QUESTIONS
VI Refuse To Answer On
the Ground That 1t Might
Tend to InCriminate Me-"
Tells Attorneys.

y
pames A. Stillman, wealthy New
York banker, who is suing the for
mer Fiji Potter for divorce, gave
but one reply today to multitude
of questions asked by her attor-
neys in regard to his relations with
other women, and that reply was:
II refuse to answer on the
ground that it might tend to in
criminate me-"
With these words, often repeat
ed during his three hours in the
witness chair, Mr.. Stillman was re-
ported to have cast aside inquiries
as to whether he knew Mrs. Flor
ence H. Leeds, former Broadway
chorus girl, whether he was the
father of her infant son, Jay Ward
Leeds, whether he supported Mrs.
Leeds In luxury, whether he had
formed a trust fund for her child,
whether they had been together on
his yacht, "Modesty,' and at 'love
nest" owned by him near Miami,
Florida.
Banker Adamant.
In similar manner, he declined,
1t was said, to say whether he knew
"Helen" or Clara" two other wo-
men named by Mrs. Stillman in her
amended answer to his divorce
complaint. With the same words
Mr.. Stillman even refused to iden-
tify his own photograph and sig
nature, James A Stillman," writ
ten upon an application for a IL
cense to operate an automobile.
He would not say who christened
the "Modesty" or whether he had
aboard it a gold cocktail shaker
and two gold glasses which the de-
Tense charged were presents from
Mrs. Leeds.
Another question which he re-
fused to answer on the ground that
it might tend to incriminate him.
was:
"WhiIe your family was at At
lantic City at one hotel did you
maintain an apartment with an
other woman, at another hotel IN
Atlantic City?"
Attorneys Wrangle.
Before he took the stand there
was a long wrangle among the at
torneys as to what matter the cross
examination might embrace. Dur
ing this argument John e. Mack,
guardian ad Item for Guy Stillman,
tha infant son of Mrs. Stillman,
whose paternity is attacked by the
banker, was reported to have SAID
az intend to examine Mr.. still
man fully as to a conspiracy be-
tween him and one Florence ii.
Leeds whereby they planned and
nre-arranged to bring this action
FOR divorce to destroy the wife, to
destroy the child, to the end that
he might marry Florence II. Leeds
aysi legitimatize their child, Jay
Leeds. and to the end that the
child / represent might not only
Iose his share in this trust fund,
but that which is more important
still, his good name and birth
right" n,
StiIIman Faces Cameras.
Then the defense called upon
witnesses from a jewelry shop ana
trust company in New YORK
who presented transcripts OF pllis
and deposit accounts in the name
of Mrs. f. r. Leeds, 1t was learn
ed. When he went on the stand,
Mr.. Stillman requested that these
two persons leave the room, ana
his request was granted.
The banker sat within eight feeI
NJ his wife, one of them occupy
ing a chair on each side of Ref
cree Daniel J. Gleason. They
never exchanged glances, 1t was
said. ,
Mr.. Stillman perspired freely
throughout his cross examination
and his face and brow were bead
ed with moisture when he lett
the building. He entered 1t Sc
cretly. early this morning, through
a rear areaway, basement door
and along a dark corridor between
the coal bin and boiler room. This
afternoon he came out the same
way. but photographers were wait
ing for him.
Hurrying toward taxicab, and
faced nv a battery of cameras, he
said:
"Oh, well, / don't care" While
the cameras clicked.
Mrs. Stillman, who busted her-
self with her knitting, while Mr..
Stillman was grilled by her attor-
neys, remarked, HE Is running
true to form" when asked what
she thought of her husband 5 per-
sistent refusal to answer ques-
lions. :,
Evidence against her occupied
the morning session. Edward j,
Lawler, an employe at the Stillman
estate in the Pocantico hills, tes-
tilted regarding a party in ceie--
bration of the first anniversary OF
Guy Stillman's birth, of a note
Mrs. Stillman sent to Fred Beau
vais, with a slice of the birthday
cake, and then of telephone con-
versation between Mrs. Stillman
in New York and Beauvais, the
family's Indian guide, who, Mr.,
Stillman charged. is the father of
little Guy.
NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED.