Evening star., 1921-05-22
ST|LLMAN TAKES
SETTLEMENT STEP
IN DIVORCE SUIT
Offers Wife. $50, ,OOO a Year
and Agrees to Recog-
nize Baby Guy.
BY the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, May 21-Settlement
of the divorce suit brought by James
A. stillman, millionaire banker
against Mrs. Anne L. Stillman. in
volving recognition of the legitimacy
of the infant Guy Stillman. has been
sought by Mr.. Stillmans attorneys,
the New York Times announces in
its Sunday morning edition.
The terms of the settlement are
still under negotiation. the news
paper states They provide for
separation agreement between Mr..
and Mrs. Stillman. whereby she is
granted a yearly allowance of $4,000.
the abandonment of the divorce pro-
ceedings and recognition of the child's
legitimacy.
Attorneys silent.
All of the attorneys in the case who
could be reached tonight declined to dis
cuss the reported settlement. but none
of them would deny 1t. Hearings in the
case were to have been held June l and
2. after having been twice postponed.
The settlement negotiations are reported
to have caused the poStponements.
The divorce proceedings were begun
in the summer of 1920. Mrs. Stillman
having been served with copy of the
summons as she was about to sail for
Europe on the steamship Olympic on
July y 1920. The complaint charged her
with infidelity and attacked the legiti-
macy of her youngest son. Guy, who was
born in November, 1918.
Fred BeauvaiS. a half-breed Indian
guide. who had been employed at the
Stillman summer camp near Three
Rivers Quebec was named as father
of the child.
Immediately after the papers in the
case were served. they were filed in
the village of Carmel. y. Y. the re-
mote Putnam county seat. where
they reposed in the files for several
months. Some time later. Daniel G.
Gleason. of PoughkeepSie. was named
as referee in the case and he subse-
quently heard testimony at several
secret hearings.
Later. John f. Mack. also of Pough-
keepsie. was named as guardian ad
litem for the child, Guy.
Wife Makes Counter Charges.
Mr.. and Mrs Stillman lived apart
after the papers We're filed. but the
case did not become public until
March of this year, when counsel in
court Justice Morschauser at WI ite
Plains with a petition TO file and
amended answer in the case and to
ask for counsel fees.
This amended answer. which set up
an affirmative defense. denied all the
allegations of Mr.. Stillman and set
forth that he was guilty of infidelity.
naming Mrs. Florence H. Leeds. a
former Broadway chorus girl. as CO.
respondent 1t also accused the
banker of having lived with Mrs.
Leeds under an assumed name and of
being the father of her infant son.
Jay. who was born in September. 1918
Pending settlement of the suit
Justice Morschauser allowed Mrs
Stillman counsel fees of 5000: ex-
penses. s12.50o. and alimony of $500
a month
Rumors of a settlement have been
current ever since Mrs Stillman filed
her counter charges. but PREVIOUSLY
one side OF the other always denied
them and announced its detern1ina-
tioa Of carrying the case to a finish
Latest Step Taken by Husband.
The latest proposals for a settle
ment are reported to have come from
Hr- Stillman's attorneys Mrs. Still
man is said TO have been acquainted
with them earlier in the week and
70 have discussed them last THURSDAY
at Poughkeepsie with Mr. Mack. who
Is reported TO have informed her that
they did not jeopardize the-interests
Of her youngest son Another post
ponement Of the hearings was an
nounced the next day.
Mrs Sti1lman is said to have asked
for a continuance of her present al
lowance Of $500 a month. but her
husbands attorneys are understood
TO have opposed so large a sum. This
is one of the details that has not yet
been definitely agreed upon.
In the event the negotiations for a
settlement are successful. attorneys
in the case are expected to appear be-
fore Justice Morechauser and ask fop
a discontinuance of the suit. which
undoubtedly will be granted This.
IL is said. will automatically estab-
lish Guys legitimacy. as the paternity
of child in such circumstances can
not be attacked except through di-
vorce proceedings.
His paternity established. Guy Still
man Will be entitled to participation
on an equal basis with the three
other Stillman children in the $1,000
900 trust fund left by their grand
father. the late James Stillman.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stillman were married
in 1901. In addition to Guy. they
have three children: Anne, nineteen
James. seventeen, and Alexander,
nine.