The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-21
Continued from First Page.

u
the result was that by cable and even
the radio she engaged lawyers. presum-
ably Cadwalder Wickersham Taft.
to file denial of her husbands allega-
tions.
Mrs Stilman returned from Europe
/ to be met by stories that had RECALLED
! folks here since her departure. Despite
the fact that the name of Fred Beauvais
was not specified in Mr.. Stillman's COM
plant, that stalwart's name was asso-
ciated with Mrs. Stillmans throughout
the hotel corridors and wherever else the
| gossips found 1t most easy to congregate
in large numbers.
II was then that Mrs Stllman took II
upon herself TO do a bit of sleuthing on
her own Gas told yesterday by THE NEW
YORK HERALD. with the result that she
became very familiar with stories OF
Florence Leeds and other women. OF
other women she heard nothing but
vague rumors. probably entirely untrue.
But she reported to her legal advisers
that she had every reason to believe that
her husband and Miss Leeds were living
Mt 81 East Eighty-sixth street as Mr..
and Mrs Franklin Harold Leeds. Later
she added more-the story OF the cot
tage at Stony Brook. l.. ].
Say. "Leeds', Boy Is StiIlmnn's.
Now, according to this friend of Mrs.
Stillmans, her counter complaint against
her husband Is very specific. Sho
| charges that Jay Leeds. who is 81
| months old, is the son OF her husband
and Florence Leeds And such a specific
charge is considered rather too positive
by some lawyers Representatives of
Mr. Stillman point out that he does not
specify Fred Beauvais as the father or
Guy Stillman. He merely claims that
he Is not the boys parent. But Mrs.
| Stillman is not so conservative
Mrs. Stillman's lawyers do not hint of
the possible evidence they may have
substantiating the direct charge Of Jay
Leeds's parentage. However, IL IS
known that Mr.. Stillman was prompted
to instigate his action by something bor-
dering on desperation. THE NEW YORK
HERALp's informant says that the ref
| cree in the coming proceedings (Which
will be cloaked In an Oriental secrecy.
| by the way) will receive testimony to
the effect that the banker was tremen-
| dously in love with Florence Leeds and
was for marrying her as soon MS he
could free himself of Mrs. Stillman.
The story goes 1t was not alone the
appeal OF Florence Leeds that impelled
the harassed banker to want to marry
her, but to further his plan of eliminat-
| ing Guy Stillman from heirship and
substituting Jay Leeds. There Is the
James A. Stillman trust fund of more
than s6000.000 that the father of the
present head of the National City Bank
created for the legitimate issue of his
son. The State statutes provide for the
dover rights of a youngster legitimized
by a marriage subsequent to birth.
| Criminal Investigation Possible.
i Among the few millions who will
manifest interest In the counter-charges
to be made against Mr.. Stillman when
he gets through producing his reasons
why he should receive divorce may be
representatives Of the United States De-
partment of Justice.
Thus far Mrs. Stillmans lawyers have
not limited that they intend asking the
Government to consider the simultaneous
presence In Florida of Mr.. Stillman and
Florence Leeds. The fact is that they
refuse to comment upon 1t at all. But
this much is true: In Mrs. Stiilman's
defence and counter-attack the alleged
affections and associations OF the presi-
dent OF the National City Bank and
the former much coveted member of the
Century Theatres Cnic:len Chorus will