New-York tribune., 1921-03-22
Later Referring to Friend
ship With Beauvais, Ask
ing ssSquare Deal,'' Said
10 Be i'm Bankers Hands
M;ssiye of 1918
Is Called ssPitiful''
HerFriends in Reply Point
Out Couple Were Not
Parted at Time Stated

James A. Stillman, president of the
National City Bank, is said to be in
,oxsessiou OF letter from his wife
,,ferring to her friendship with Fred
R,auyais, the French Canadian, who
81. become one of the chief figures in
ne double divorce action.
According to person who has read
tse missive, which was written in the
airing Of 1918. it is lengthy, ram
sling and pitiful document" in which
Mrs. Stillman declared her husband was
entitled to know her feelings for Beau
vs;s.
She is said to have asked his for
syeness if ne believed that this friend
ship indicated any wavering in her de-
,otion to him and to have told him
that the letter was inspired by her be-
lief in "the doctrine of the square
DEAL"
Her Friends See Discrepancy
Although this letter. written three
years ago, now is said to be an i'm
portant part of the evidence Mr.. Still
mans attorneys hope to introduce,
friends of Mrs. Stillman pointed out
that the couple did not part until last
March and that until that time Mr..
Ssillman continued to live with his
wife as though the missive never had
been penned.
This continuance of their married re-
Kittens probably will be used by Mrs.
Shllman's counsel as an argument to
exclude the letter or to minimize it's
Importance as evidence should their
first objection to its that
twas confidential communication be-
geen wife and husband-be overruled
At the time the letter was written
NJ. and Mrs. Stillman were making
their home at Malbanns, their Pecan
Hto Hills estate. Mrs. Stillman's at
,orneys are prepared, it is said, to offer
not only the testimony of servants as
u the fact of their sharing the same
house as man and wife, but also that of
visitors to the house. One of the lat
tsft who is said to have volunteered his
Mryites as a witness, is H. Phelps Claw
Nn, son of j. R. Clawson, of Buffalo,
y, friend both of Mrs. Stillman
sEd Of Beauvais.
Mrs. Stillman's attorneys are pre-
pared to offer testimony also to show
that several months after the letter
ns written the husband was at the
hosptal in this city awaiting the birth
m child to his wife. The child was
fusy ha x.,1n VI <O
name and fortune Mr.. Stillman now
challenges.
Tell of Another Birth
Only a few weeks before, according
TO evidence said to be in the hands Of
Mn. Stillman's attorneys, the banker
vas within call during the birth of
another child, this time in an apart
nent at 81 East Eighty-sixth Street,
occupied by Mrs. Florence H. Leeds,
whom Mrs. Stillman is said to intend
% name in her amended answer.
The child born in that apartment
vas Jay Leeds, of whom Mr.. Stillman
y alleged to be the father. He is de-
sared to have displayed the anxiety
and interest of parent in the event.
Mrs. Stillman's attorneys are said to
have an affidavit from one of the nurses
attending Mrs. Leeds, in which she
tells Of informing the waiting man that
II is fine, sturdy boy, and all is
This man the nurse knew as "Mr.
Leeds" The "Mr. Leeds" who visited
me apartment in East Eighty-sixth
street and was known as the husband
q Florence H. Leeds has been identi-
NED as James A. Stillman by servants
Snom he engaged for Mrs. Leeds.
according to an anonymous letter
which Mrs. Stillman's attorneys have
Neelved, Mrs. Leeds was accustomed to
s.aoress this man as Jay or ~" a
efcumstance which the writer held ac-
child. ~ w ~ s'se" W '"e
At about the time of her alleged inti-
macy with Mr.. Stillman Mrs. Leeds re-
. .s.sed gift of $150,OO0 from a man,
sMscsofqlng to a woman who said that
:; s;'s. ! Leeds had showed her certificate
aUps a1Usposit for securities in that amount.
one showed me-" the woman added.
a. notlce from trust company stat
II mat list of securities of the par
'que OF $l50,000 had been deposited
tcontlnusd on page hve)