New-York tribune., 1921-10-20
Divorce Paid
For bv Leeds.
Wife 'Testifies
Legality OF Her Marriage TO
Broker Defended in Fight
Against AunuImens and to
Retain Custody of Child
College Romance Told
Husband Says He Discovered
Wedding Not Valid Sew
eral Years After Ceremony

Mrs. May Joyce Leeds appeared be-
fore Justice Newburge, in the Supreme
Court Yesterday to defend the lagality
or her marriage to William Stuart
Leeds, 4 broker, who is suing for an
AnnuIlmcnt on the ground that at the
time they were married Mrs. Leeds was
still the wife Of Louis A. Freeley. Mr..
Leeds is the son Of the late William
Eaeeman Leeds, who was we'll known
lawyer. and cousin of William B.
Leeds, the "Tin Plate King"
Nr. and Mrs. Leeds were married
IN 1917 at Nashua, n H., by justice
90 -he peace. alter Mr. Leeds had been
custcl from Harvard University. Their
Arst meeting vas in Boston and took
place aetor performance at theater
there Mr. Leeds then was a student
~ Harvard. and their next meeting
took place near the university. The
couple have a daughter, four years old,
who is in the custody of Mrs. Leeds.
Tie husband in his action also asks
that the child be awarded to his care.
Mrs. Leeds Describes Marriage
Mrs. Leeds testified yesterday that
her marriage to the plaintiff was urged
b. him and that she entered into it
in good faith IN reply to the first
proposal BY Mr. Leeds, she testified,
she told him that she was the wife of
Freedley, that she did not know
Whether she could get a divorce and
that She had TO money to bring an
action 10 that end. According to Mrs.
Leeds, the Harvard student told her
net to worry about the money. She
said that Leeds consulted with John
" Connolly, a Boston lawyer, who
hroueht divorce suit in her behalf
against Freely, who failed to de-
tend il.
She alleged she saw Mr.. Leeds give
money TO Nj. Connolly In the court
house After this proceeding. when
she believed herself divorced from Mr..
Treodlov. said the witness, and in re-
sronse to thp continued urging Of Mr..
Iced, that she become his wife, she
went With him to New Hampshire and
they were married. Later they came to
New York and lived at the Waldorf
Astoria. Mrs. Leeds said she met her
mo,her-in-law and has been on friendly
terms with her since. In fact, she
still receives an allowance from the
mother Of Mr.. Leeds Of $500 month.
Defense offered in Suit
Mrs. Leeds contends in her defense
taat while the decree Of divorce be-
tween her and Mr. Freedley had not
vet been made final when she married
Mr.. Leeds, the latter knew the circum-
stances as we'll as she did, but urged
her to marry him.
Mr.. leeds also tegtifed yesterday.
lie said he had met Mr.. Connolly only
once in Boston. He asserted his wife
told lin Of her divorce action. He
added thet he believed at the time re
married the defendant that their we'd
ding was valid, bat shat in 1919, UP to
winch time they lived together, he be-
came convinced it was invalid.
Counsel asked Mr.. Leeds why. If he
believed he vas not married TO Mrs.
Leeds. he caused her commitment IN
October, 1919, TO the State Hospital for
the Insane at Morris Pains, n. j.,
where she remained TWO months MIR.
I-eets. in explanation, said that he did
not regard the question Of the illega
ity OF his marriage finally settled until
there was q court decree to shat affect
The trial will DC continued to-day.