The New York herald., 1921-03-18
SON OF MRS. LEEDS
TSTILLMAN'S,
OF BANKER SAYS
Amended Answer to Divorce
Action Parallels Charges
Made by Husband.
BUILDS UP DEFENCE
Affidayits Of Servants Fig
ure in Charges That Old
Intrigue Existed.
DESCRIBED AS ACTRESS
Child Mentioned Is Three
Months Older Than Guy, Son
Of Mrs. Stillman.
DESCRIBED AS ACTRESS

VI MTS. SIlllIJldn.
The amended answer which Mrs
Anna u. Stillman will file to the di-
vorce action brought by James A. Still
man, president OF the National City
Bank, now pending before Justice
Morschauser at Poughkeepsie, sets up
charges similar to those which the
banker brought against her when he
named Ferd Beauvais, guide, as CO.
respondent. 1t was learned yesterday
that Mrs. Stillman names as core
spondent a Mrs. Florence II. Leeds
alleging that her husband was init
mate with Mrs. Leeds during a period
Of more than two years, and that a
son known as Jay Leeds and now 81
months old, was born as a result OF
that intimacy.
IL was said yesterday by man
thoroughly conversant with the details
Of the Stillman case that Mrs. Stillman
is not going to set up counter allega-
embody her charges in o stronger de-
fence. The reason for this action L.
said to be the fact that trial of the
case might result in a draw, whereas
part Of the defence Mrs. Stillman will
be free to use them as a basis Tor a
future suit for divorce in the event Of
Ter husband failing to win his present
action.
The amended answer to Mr.. Stillman's 5
complaint. It was learned. mentions an
apartment in 81 East Eighty-sixth street
and n country place at Stony Brook, l.
T., as the places where her husband was
In the habit OF meeting Mrs. Leeds. She
is said 10 aliege that the banker lived at
these places with Mrs. Leeds as man and
wife. The period covered by these rela-
tions is said to have begun about Sep
tember, 1917. and to have continued until
recently. In support of these charges
Mrs. Sti.lman will file at least three af-
fiGavits.
Amdavits by Servants.
The first Of these is that OF Mrs. Sophie
Erickson Bartkoif OF 1924 Park avenue,
who. as Miss Erickson. was In the en-
ploy of Mira Leeds as maid at the
Eighty-sixth street house during the
period covered by the allegations and up
to six months after the birth OF Jay
Leeds. Another affidavit Is said to have
been made by Frank Ivens. superintend-
ent OF the apartment house. and the
third by Hannah Johnson of Setauket.
j. l., who was formerly cook in the
Stony BROOK house.
II was learned yesterday that these
affidayita state that the deponents have
identified 4 photograph OF Mr.. Stillman
as that OF the man they knew as Frank
Ign III. Leeds husband OF Mrs. Leeds.
and they are reported also to contain
details relative 10 the birth Of the child
and the frequency with which Mrs.
Leeds's husband appeared At the house
in East Eighty-aixth street and at the
house In Stony Brook.
Mrs. Bartkoff told a reporter for
THE NEW YORK HERALD last night that
Il was true that she had worked for
Mrs. Leeds as a maid in the East
Eighty-sixth street apartment and In
the house at stony Brook. She said
she had always understood that Mrs
Leeds was married and that her hus-
band, who was a pleasant, generous
man." visited her several times a week.
Mrs. Leeds was also recalled last
night BY the Fairbanks Twins. who are
appearing IN the Ziegfeld Midnight
Frolic on the top OF the New Amster-
dam Theatre. as a girl who was for
merly in the ziegfed Follies at the
Century Theatre. She was only In the
company for a short time, the twins
said. when she told the other show
girls that she had made 10000 in Wall
Street on a tip given her by friend
and that she was going 10 retire.
1t also states that Jay Leeds was horn
in September 1918, about three months
before the birth OF Guy Stillman, ~
months old. whose legitimacy is ques-
toned by the banker n his action. Both
children are said 10 have been born In
New York
So far as could be learned Nicoll,
Anable. Fuller a. Sullivan, attorneys for
Mr.. Stillman, have filed no denial OF
the allegations in Mrs Stilman'e
amended answer, which was served upon
them on March s, when Cadwalader,
Wickersham, Taft and John +. Bren-
nan of Yonkers, her attorneys, asked
permission of Justice Morschauser TO
amend the answer to the bankers COM
plafnt and provide for alimony and coun-
sci fees. II was pointed out by attor-
neys yesterday. however. that Mr.. still
man has until Saturday to file a denial.
Al that time the motion comes UP for
argument before Justice Morschauser at
Poughkeepsie.
Mrs. Leeds Only One Samed.
II has been reported that Mrs Still-
man probably would name more than
one woman in her amended answer. but
II has been ascertained definitely that
Mrs. Leeds ise the only correspondent
named. The amended answer is said TO