New-York tribune., 1921-03-20
Mrs. Leeds and
Her Son Leave
Miami Hastily
Traced to Florida Resort,
Woman Named in Stillman
Case Vanishes Without
Pausing to Get Trunks
Bankers Yacht Is Near By
Captain of Modesty Denies
Even knowing Florence; {;
Suit Is Up This Week

Mrs. Florence H. Leeds. said to have
been the intimate friend of James A.
Stlllman, was at Cleveland Villa, on
the shore of Biscayne Bay, Miami,
Fla, until Monday, according to dis
patches received from that city yester-
day. She had been there since Janu-
ary with her baby, Jay Ward Leeds.
1t was said that her departure Mon
day was so sudden that she left her
trunks behind, taking with her only
such articles as could be crammed has
tily into 3 few handbags. Servants
in the house said that she had not told
them where she was going.
Mr.. Stillman's yacht, the Modesty, is
lying in the bay and has been there
since January. Its sailing master as
serted he never had heard Of Mrs.
Leeds. During her stay she took some
part in the social life of Miami and
was seen, it was said, with Mr.. Still
man. The sailing master of the yacht
said the owner had not been aboard
for month.
Counsel to Appear Wednesday
This was the high light in yester-
days installment Of the scandal that
announcement that the president of the
National City Bank was suing his wife,
the former Anne Urquhart Potter, for
| divorce.
Other developments included the pos
sibility that Mr.. Stillman might be
called to appear in court before the
end of this week, and the disclosure
chat Mrs. Stillman, now at Lakewood,
is taking an active part in the prepara-
Counsel for both parties in Mr.. Still
mans divorce action will appear on
Wednesday in the Supreme Court at
| White Plains in connection with an
oft-deferred motion in Mrs. Stillman's
| behalf.
This motion concerns the wife's
counter amendment to her husbands 8
suit Nnd her request for increased ali
mony. Future publicity given the case
depends much upon the outcome Of
Wednesdays hearing. If the question
of alimony and counsel fees is disposed
of by stipulation the case could then
| be disposed of in secret before the
referee already appointed, Surrogate
Daniel j. Gleason.
| If, however, counsel for Mr.. Stillman
| object to the $4,000 a month alimony
! and $4,000 counsel fee5 demanded ny
| the defendant, on the ground that the
earnings of the president of the Ma
tional City Bank do not warrant such
an outlay, the court may grant a mo-
tion already filed oy Mrs. Stillman ask
| ing permission to examine the plain
tiff.
If this motion is acted upon favora-
bly, the banker will probably be called
on to appear and testify within forty
eight hours.
Wife Ran Down Rumors
Friends Of Mrs. Stillman in Pough-
keepsie yesterday said that she gave
personal consideration to much Of the
evidence her attorneys will present in
fghting her husbands action. After
society gossip and anonymous letters
had apprised her of the trend of her
matrimonial affairs, Mrs. Stillman, it
is said, personally sought out the
sources of these rumors to satisfy her
self as to their authenticity.
Since the first public disclosure Of
the marital differences of the Still
mans, Mrs. Stillman, say her friends.
has received many expressions of sym
pathy from persons in the social world.
Those who have conversed with her re-
Gently declare that because Of her love
for the children she at first desired
only to deny the allegations of her
tcoatlnucd On pass fsurtssn>