The Washington times., 1921-04-08
t|ES,'.
WALLACESAYS.
Titan Beauty in His Rooms Not
Mrs. Stokes, Asserts West
erner on Stand.

NEW YORK, April S.-Mrs.
Helen Elwo0d Stokes assumed the
offensive at the resumption Of w.
e. ID. Stokes divorce suit against
her yesterday, and through the
testimony of several witnesses put
deep dent into the charges Of her
husband.
AIDS HER COUNSEL.
At times smiling. Mrs. Stokes was
in constant conference with Martin
w. Littletop, chief counsel for the
defense, suggesting questions to be
put to witnesses and checking testi-
mony closely. She plans to take the
witness stand herself tomorrow. The
evidence of yesterday and today Is
to clear away 30 far as possible the
accusations of her husband. This
will leave an open field for her per-
sonal story.
Edgar T. Wallace. last OF the long
line OF correspondents named by
Stokes. was the stellar witness yes
terday. A thick set. stern faced, gray
haired chap OF about nifty years, he
displayed plainly the resentment he
felt over being brought into the trial.
Truculent monosyllstles made up
the bulk of his testimony. He was
there obviously to clear his own name
in the eyes of the world. and especi-
ally in the eyes Of his young Cali
fornia bride. whom he married long
after the incidents charged against
Mrs Stokes and him In the house
of the eavesdroppers, at 10 East
Thirty-fifth street.
DENIES INTIMACY.
Staring fixedly at Supreme Court
Justice Finch, Wallace sa41
II never saw Mrs. Stokes once.
from before the time she was mar
other day. She never visited me In
my apartment. 1 never was inti-
mate with her. I never had any con-
versation with her at any time, in
any place, in any way, between 1903
and the other day"
Mrs. Stokes watched him with un-
blinking eyes and set lines. He was
the biggest witness involved and
much depended on his testimony.
Wallace's statement was accepted by
the court as a categorical denial of
every charge made against the young
wife, involving him.
He prepared to leave the stand, but
Francis Wellman, counsel for Stokes,
WIN quCStloH opcHinE
the cross DISCRIMINATION. At this point
the trial began to slip back into the
groove of comedy and the court rec
ord was sprinkled with dialogue that
would be almost out of place in a
Broadway farce. Stokes lawyer
asked:
Did you ever plight your troth to
Mrs. Stokes before she was married."
The Westerner gave the question
consideration, then gave 1t up, and
said:
spell it out. please. don't quite
get your
WITNESS CAUTIOUS.
The question was repeated and the
witness shook his head, with the ap-
pearance of a man on dangerouss
ground, who needs must be watchful,
and he said:
"Fd like to be sure that under
stant just what you have in mind"
Herbert Smyth, of Stokes counsel
smilingly resssured Wallace by ask
ing IL he ever promised to marry Mrs
Stokes. Considerably relieved, the
Westerner responded heartily:
"Noi
He was asked then IL he ever en-
tertained a red-headed girl in his
anu ne hoUlltttu CnecT-
fully that he might have received
visits from many, but emphasized that
all were escorted and none remained
more than a few hours.
Reverting to the golden-hairpins
and titan tresses that were said to
have once been found nesting among
Wallace's pillows. Mr.. Smyth asked
IL any crimson-crested young lady had
ever occupied the couch.
Wallace responded with an ex-
plosive negative. No sample OF frail
with carmine, auburn or
any other shade of hair Aver did any
such thing with his knowledge and
Then Smyth popped nimbly
at him, the traditional trick question
without which no divorce suit is ever
complete:
But IL Mrs. Stokes did. would you
admit it?"
Wallace retorted:
"Since she didn't, 1 will say she
didn't"
A BACHELORS PRIVILEGE.
The lawyer was not to be evaded.
He repeated the query, explaining
that misconduct of that sort was a
crime in New York. but Martin Lit
tleton leaped valiantly to the. de-
fense with this ruling:
"Oh, no, not IL the man is a bache-
Iorr'
wellman and Smyth objected to
Interpretation of the law,
citing statutes and precedents. but
Martin laughed in their faces, re-
peating:
"Oh. come now, it can't be a crime
II a man is a bachelor"