The Washington times., 1921-03-21
F|Fr TRIED TO
WIN BACKL0vE
Begged StiIIman's Banking
Friends to Aid Her in Holding
Husbands Affections.

NEW YORK, March 21.-In an
effort to keep her husband, Mrs.
"Fifi" Potter Stillman not only en-
listed the sympathy and aid of mu-
tual friends in society, but also Sc
cured the active help Of intimates
of her husband in the world finance.
BREAKS LAST LINK.
1t was this interference by her in
his business affairs that caused
| James A. Stillman finally to break
the last thin link that held him and
his wife together. so far as outward
appearances were concerned.
The campaign of the still beauti-
full and always charming wife and
| mother among her husbands business
associates was described today as
most ingenious and adroit.
Its prosecution carried her down
town to Wall Street; TO the Nationa!
City Bank, OF which great financial
institution her husband l. president
Her plan was to have him per
suaded to go to Europe to take
charge of the banks interests there.
She. would go with him.
She told her friends that il was
her great hope to have him take a
| large part in the rehabilitation of
wished to do her share in the task
of reconstruction
So smoothly did the hidden ma
chinery of Mrs. Stillman's campaign
run at first that for along time
Stillman was in ignorance of the
power behind the pressure that was
being brought. to bear upon him in
lths -susInesS sworfs
MYSTERY Until MARCH.
He may have understood that it
was his wife who had sctuated their
friends In society to try to bring
them together. But the other plan. 50
skillfully masked. remained a mys-
terry to him until March. 1920.
He wasted no time when he was
told that Mrs. Stillman had oeen
dabbling with her dainty fingers in
his business affairs.
He left her and the children on the
country place, 'Nalbanns." at Pleas
antville, and went into town to live.
That ended any pretensc now how
shadowy had become relations be-
tween tho Stllmans.
From sources Of unqucstionad au
thority IL Is learned that Stillman
was exasperated beyond measure by
what he consirered his wife's "in-
reference" in his business.
HOPED FOR CANCELLATION.
1t may be stated, however. that until
the moment that she and her baby,
Guy, whose legitimacy her husband
is attacking. were served with copies
Of the summons and compliant in the
action. she had hoped that a recon-
ciliation might Be effected
Most reliable information is that
the original plan had been for her to
secure a divorce. 1t was to have
been one OF those pleasant, har-
monious affairs that be arranged by
those who have the price. The grim |
skeleton in the Stllman family closet !
was going to remain in the closet |
The public wasn't going to know any |
thing about.it.
But Mrs. Stillmsn took no steps to-
ward securing divorce. She went |
quietly about her scheme to win back |
her husband.
Then came the explosion.
St!llman brought the suit himself, |
not only naming a halfbreed Indian as |
the correspondent. but also attack
ing little Guy Stillman's legitimacy |
and his right to share in the $1,000, 900
trust fund established by the will Of |
James Stillnan.
WHY HE ATTACKED BABY.
tack the baby. certainly innocent of |
any possible wrongdoing?" repeatedly |
has been asked 1t has been explained |
that he considered that a highly |
necessary part of his legal duel.
Why was it necessary? has been
asked.
One in a position to know details |
of the inside workings OF the sit |
uation suggests the following an
swer as probably the correct one:
Mrs. Stillman charges that her |
husband lived with Mrs. Florence il. |
Leeds as her husband. She will try !
to prove that Mrs. Leeds infant son |
Is really the son of Stillman.
Information in possession OF the |
lawyers in the case is that Stillman |
had made no secret of love for the |
vivacious and comely Mrs. Leeds. |
The common assumption OF Mrs. |
Stillman's friends is that Stillman |
wishes to marry Mrs. Leeds.
Now. should n man prove that he |
was not the father of q child. 1t would |
cut that child out of n share In any
trust fund, or of any estate Of the |
father or the fathers family. II the |
man should then marry a woman by |
whom he already hsd had q child, the |
marriage would lcGitimatiEe the child. |
That action is automatic. The child |
then. would become heir to any trust |
fund, or estate, of the father.
Mr.. Stlllman is described as being |
extremely fond OF the son OF Mrs |
Leeds, just as he is said to be de-
voted to her.
In this connection II must be men. |
toned that part OF the evidence tnai
will be used by Mrs. Stillman will be |
an attempt to prove that Stillman and |
Mrs. Leeds were together In Miami |
Fla, last January.