The New York herald., 1921-07-16
POETS TESTIMONY
AIDS MRS. STILLMAN
III. Phelps Clawson Says
Banker and Wife Were To-
gether on Disputed Date.
WROTE POEM TO HER
Beauvais, the Indian Guide,
Also Object OF His Met
rical EffusiOns.
LEEDS DRIVERS ON STAND
Both Identify Photographs of
Y. Show Girl and One Recog-
nizes Stillman.
LEEDS DRIVERS ON STAND


PoUGHKEEPsIE, July 15.-H. Phelps
Clawson of Buffalo, who took the stand
yesterday for Baby Guy Stillman, CEN
trail figure in the James A. Stillman
divorce suit, was questioned by the
bankers lawyers for more than two
and a half hours to-day Not once did
he waver in his declaration that ne
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Stillman living to-
gether at Pleasantville, n. Y, during
January, 1919. At the close of his testi-
mony it was conceded generally that
he had proven a strong witness for
Baby Guy and that his testimony
would go long way toward dsprov-
ing the bankers claim that the boy is
not his son.
The hearing came to an end at 1880
p. M. to-day, primarily because John
F. Brennan, chief counsel for Mrs.
Stillman, is Ill. The lawyer returned
to his home in Yonkers last night suf-
fering from cold, and telephone
message received from his physician
this morning said Mr.. Brennan had a
temperature of 103. His illness is not
considered serious, however, and it is
expected he will be on hand July 25,
when hearings will be resumed before
Referee Daniel j. Gleason.
William Rand, one of Mr.. Stilman' s
lawyers, took up the cross-examination
of Clawson and brought it out that
Mrs. Stillman met Fred X Beauvais.
the Indian guide, at Lake Cocheighney.
Canada, in November 1916. The wit
ness gave the guides full name as Fred
Kiantonoran Beauvais de Ste Jeanne,
and said he probably was originally a
member of the Mohawk tribe, although
Beauvais claims to be of the Iroquois
ration. Beauvais's home, Mr.. Clawson
stated. was in the Cagonvnawangan
Reservation, near Montreal.
Poem to Mrs. stiIlman and Guide.
Mr.. Clawson testified he made ar
rangements with the National City Bank
in the winter of 1917. to go to the Ha-
wanna Branch, in Cuba He was a guest
at the Stillman home from January /
was during that period that the trip
to Cubs was arranged Mr.. Stillman.
lie swore, was a weekend visitor at
the Pleasantville home during that
pcrioG
Nj. Clawson next visited the Stillmans
on the following New Years Day. He
met Miss Anne Stillman the night be-
fore at a dance of Mrs. Cornelius Van
derbit. he said. and made the trip to
ha "a h0
following morning. His next visit was
on January 6. and the third on January
c7. Mr.. Stillman, he swore. was present
on each occasion. DR.. Hugh l.. Russell.
tie Buffalo osteopath. was there during
the latter visit and treated him.
Several letters Mr.. Clawson wrote to
his mother. Mrs. John L. clawson. of
1l09 Delaware avenue, Buffalo. y. y.
now dead, and to an aunt We're sub
mitted as evidence. A book of poems
written by Mr.. Clawson and printed
at his own expense in the latter part
of 1919 were turned over to the referee
In this book there was a poem dedicated
ITO A. u. s." (Mrs. Stfllman) and
to Fred K. Beauvais. Mr.. Clawson ad-
mitted he thought a lot of Beauvais.
"Are you partial to Mrs. Stilman?"
Mr.. Rand asked.
'T am" Mr.. Clawson replied. II have
reason to be. She has been more than
a friend and has treated me as a
mother"
Mrs. Leeds's Chauffeurs Testify.
Mr.. Rand asked the witness whether
| he was versifier or a poet and Mr.
Clawson said he thought he was a versi-
| fier rather than a poet.
Mr.. Rand's cross examination was
| chiefly along the lines of a memory test
| and he found Mr.. Clawson's recollection
on the main points clear. The lawyer
got the witness somewhat twisted on the
movements of trains and of the exact
hour of his arrival and leaving Mon
dame, but In the main Mr.. Rand did not
succeed in shaking Mr.. Clawson's story
Mr.. Clawson displayed a keen knowl-
edge of Indian history during his de-
scription of happenings in Canada, and.
Xinstead OF being confused by conflicting
questions put to him, he frequently
/ehowed Mr.. Rand that he was in error
rather than himself
Two other witnesses were called for
Mrs. Stillman, but their testimony did
mot take more than fifteen minutes. as
/there was no cross examination They
were Patrick Tortey and John J. Cronin,
/former chauffeurs for Mrs. Florence II.
Leeds. the show girl named in Mrs.
IStillmans affirmative defence" Cronin
His at present a detective in the New
York Police Department. Both of Them
Identified photographs of Mrs. Leeds.
but Cronin was the only one to identify
~ Mr. Cfif1,rnap man ha