New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
Stillnlan
Opens AIin1Ony
Action To-day
Will Ask That Husband Be
Examined by Court as
to His Resources aud In
come, Attorney Announces
Rumors of Peace Persist
Delay i'll Filing Answer to
Divorce Petition Leads
10 Report of Settlement

The divorce action which James A.
Stillman, president of the National City
Bank. has instituted against the former
Flfl Potter still hung fire yesterday
giving rise to fresh rumors that it
might be settled out of court.
John F. Brennan. Of Ycnkcrs. one Of
Mrs. Stilman's attorneys, announced
however, that a motion in her behalf
you'd be made before Supreme Court
Justice Morschauser in White Plains
to-day that Mr.. Stillman be brought
before the court and examined unde,
oath as to his financial resources and
income
Such examination would be for the
purpose OF determining what aimony
and counsel fees he might be able tc
pay pending trial of the action. Coun.
sci for Mrs. Stillman, it is said, expect
to ask for from $1,000 to $4,000 3
month as temporary alimony.
Her Answer Not Disclosed
Mr.. Brennan declined to tel! the
nature of Mrs. Stillman's answer to he,
husbands accusation of misconduct O,
what changes, if any, she desired te
make in the answer.
1t was learned, however, that per-
mission to amend the answer was oh.
tanned March and that the complete
reply has been prepared and is in a
law offlce in this city to be filed at anv
moment. A report that Mrs. Stillman
intended to make counter charges
against her husband in the amende d
answer was largely responsible for the
rumor that counsel on both sides were
contemplating negotiations that might
lead to settlement.
Mr. Brennan would not comment or
these reports. He said he did not fee,
ut liberty to speak, as there soon woulc
be conference of all the attorneys
after which "a complete statement
probably would be given out.
If Mr.. and Mrs. Stillman should de-
eide to settle the affair out of court
the case could be dropped by serving
notice on the court that satisfactory
adjustment had been reached
Because of the matter of temporary
alimony, which has been pending be-
fore Justice Morschauser for severa,
days, Daniel j. Gleason, who was ap-
pointed referee in the case last Sep
tember. has held no hearin s recently
1t was learned that so far no testimony
has been given before him that Mrs
Stillman and Fred Beauvais had beer
seen in each others company in pub.
lie
Guide Tutor to Elder Boy
Almost all of the witnesses, it wa!
said, have been French Canadians EN-
ployed at the estate in Quebec. Theil
testimony was given through an inter
prefer Beauvais has been employed
not only at the Canadian estate, bu
also at the Stillman home at Pocantict
Hills, where he instructed the eide
Stillman boy, James, in wpodcraft.
He is now in Canada and there i:
said to be little chance of his returning
to the jurisdiction of New York
Those interested in the case asserted
that if Mr. Stillman's principal aim wa1
to deprive two-year-old Guy Stilmal
| of his right to the Stillman name ant
still pursue this purpose, even if h,
decided to drop the divorce suit, start
ing a separate action to that end
Mrs. Stillman's friends are confident
however, that she would consent to NJ
adjustment which left such an oppor
tunity open to her husband, as he
chief endeavor, they say, has been t,
protect the future of her infant son.
If the present action was discon
tinued without any further effort OF
Mr.. Stillman's part to deprive th,
infant of his name and fortune, it wa
! said that John L. Mack, guardian az
litem of the child, might bring an in
dependent action, if he saw fit, to settl,
any possible doubt of the legitimac.
of the child