The Washington times., 1921-03-23

OHC VIM - OH Sh0 y&CuI WhiiC thC
astounding incidents were being en-
acted.
PRENTICE QUIT VESSEL.
1t tells of how Mrs. Percy Rookie
feller, sister Of Stillman, and other
figures noted in the world Of finance
and society. visited the yacht. and
the Leeds girl had to be kept out of
sight.
1t tells how John A. Prentice. a
millianaire and Stillman's most inti-
Fsnate friend. quit the Modesty one
night recently and "ounked" aboard
another yacht In the harbor of
Miami, Fla. - presumably because
Prentice had come to his own con-
ciusions about the relations Of Still
man and the former chorus girl.
The story tells Of another woman
whom Mrs. Leeds" considered for
midable rival for the affections Of
Stillman and how on one occasion
Mrs. Leeds" searched the yacht from
stem to stern in an effort to see II
the rival was secrsfed on the Modesty.
The story Is presented just as II
came last night from the lips Of
Frank Murphy. who until q few days
ago was chief steward Of the Mod
esty. Murphy. big, outstanding rep
resentative Of his calling, arrived In
New York yesterday on the City Of
Montgomery OF the Savannah Line.
WILL AID MRS sTILLMAN.
He Is registered under q name other
than his own at a hotel. Frantic
efforts have been made by detectives
and attorneys to gain his ear. To
all entreaties he has returned the
same answer:
Il like Mr.. stillman. He is a fine
man. Ny sympathies. however, arc
with Mrs. Stillman in her present diff
iculties. and ] intend to do anytime
/ can to help her clear her name.
shall not volunteer any statement, but
IL / am subpoenaed in any court &C
tion. shall be forced to tell the truth
as know 1t.
And, IL tell my story, do not see
how any court in the land can avoid
granting Mrs. Stillman an absolute
decree of divorce"
DISGUISED AS FISHERMAN.
Fitting in startlingly with informa.
tion that has come to Mrs. Stillman'c
attorneys from Miami. Murphy as
serted that detectives within the past
three weeks gained crucial info-ma.
tion for Mrs. Stillman in the Florida
resort city.
These detectives disguised as fisher
men and attired in oilcloth and dun
garees, rowed to the Modesty while
Stillman was entertaining his imam.
orata, peeped through portfolios and
secured information Of the greatest
value to Mrs. Stilimap in her "affi-nA
tive defense" counter-chargcs against
the president Of the National Cit,
Bank.
The detectives approached Captain
Avurn nrA IyN
knutson, Launchman Andrews, Chief
Engineer Lee Matthews and the eight
members OF the crew OF the Modesty
and asked them how they'd like q trip
to New York. "Jim" Stillman, receiv-
ing reports OF these feverish activ-
tiles. said cooIly:
'T wonder why they are watching
me-"
Nevertheless. the master of the
yatch issued instant orders for a
strict watch to be posted on the yacht
and ordered shades down on all
portfolios"
MRS. LEEDS EXCITED.
Mrs. Leeds received the news diff
ferently. She grew intensely excited.
Two weeks ago last Saturday Still
man received a telegram from New
\ ork and left hurriedly. His friend
or two later Mrs. Leeds" worried
and upset. said:
81 am awaiting word to leave at
any time"
On Monday, March 81. she did leave
for Havana.
She was accompanied only by Ber-
tina Potter, her companion. Her lit
tie thirty-one-months-ol son, Jay
Ward Leeds" (called by her Jesse"
and by Stillnan Jay, Jr.") was left
behind. The former "Flo" Lawlor
and Miss Potter sAiled for Havana.
She said, while experimenting the
cartage Of a small steamer trunk:
81 don't know where I'll emo up
or where I am going"
Last ThQrsday-six days ago-CAp-
tain Wahwerit received a telegram
from Stillman, reading in substance:
"Will not return. Proceed north
as soon as possible"
SHE DECORATED YACHT.
Frank Murphy went to work for
Stillman in March, 1920. He was en-
ployed first in the Stillman town
house, at No. 27o Park avenue. and
then, went aboard the Modesty as
This was in the middle Of August,
THE Modesty was built by the
Morris Heights Shipbuilding Com
pany, on the Harlem river. 1t was
one of the most magnificent motor
yachts ever built--125 feet long, 18-
foot beam. With its wonderful in
terror fittings, supervised by Mrs.
Leeds and a firm Of New York deco
rators, 1t cost Mr.. Stillman. I have
been told, s350,000.
"The Modesty 1--WE all call 1t the
Tmmodesty' now) was to be a pres
| ent for Mrs. Stillman, I was told.
| As a matter of fact I have never
seen Mrs. Stillman aboard. In fact,
! I never saw Mrs. Stillman.
Mrs. Leeds picked the Modesty's
decorations. The same. firm deco
rated the beautiful little villa she
purchased for $4,000 in Miami.
Il saw Mrs. Leeds first the day
| the Modesty was commissioned
August Is last, as / recall. She
came to the shipyard with Mr.. Still
man in an automobile. They were