Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-04-30
Gets Grip
on Leeds Millions

DOuSHl the concern ana Ine pTOHtS OF
the "big four" were estimated to have
been close to $4O,OoO0O0.
Mr.. Leeds and his associates in
vested their profits in the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific railroad. Those
were the good old days of watered
stocks and the Leeds Reid Moore
combine soon had the Rock Island
far different institution than In the
calm days of r. r. Cables control.
Leeds was made president of the road
in 1902, but after two years he quar-
relied with his partners and was GUST
ed from Office. However, he had
Cleaned up and his fortune had
grown apace.
Divorced From First Wife.
Meanwhile Leeds had been divorced
from the wife ot his earlier years
whose money was the nest egg of his
huge fortune. She received a flat sum
of $1,000,0O0 They had a son, Ru-
dolph Gaar Leeds of Richmond-who
by the way received $1,000,0O0 by his
fathers will.
Mrs. Leeds No. ., the present Prin-
cess Anastasia, was Miss Mamie
May Stewart, daughter of a wealthy
Ohio banker She was regarded AZ
one of the prettiest girls in Cleveland
when she was married to George f.
Worthington. 1t was not long before
the WOrthington marital bark struck
rough waters. Mrs. Worthington Sc
cured the divorce.
1t was about this time that Mr..
Leeds met her and became infatuated
with her. 1t was only three days
after the Leeds divorce was granted
that Mrs. Worthington became the
second Mrs. Leeds. AS wedding
present Mr.. Leeds gave his new bride
jewelry valued at more than mil
lion dollars a mansion on Fifth ave
nue. estimated to be worth 100000.
and an ocean going steam yacht. 1t
was on one of their visits to Paris
that Leeds bought Mrs. Leeds No. >
a S340,00o pearl necklace.
About that time son was born to
the happy pair-the present w. B.
Leeds, Jr. This youth gained the title
poor richest boy" because of the
great care his mother and father pro
vided and the fortune spent on guard
ing his footsteps.
A Royal Brineing-Up.
When this child was two and one
half years old he went with his father
and mother TO London. And here, in
part, is Il cabled newspaper dispatch
of how the once humble florist and
railroad worker provided for his heir
by second marriage:
Not even an heir to royalty could
have more elaborate care nor more
luxurious service than this little
American is now receiving. 1t is the
wonder of the whole hotel (the eX-
elusive Claridge).
1.-TWO nurses are in constant attend
ance and maid. valet, and extra
servants are devoted to chasing away
dull care"
Death of MIR. Leeds.
1t was June %, 1908, in France, that
the "tin plate king" died. The will
was filed AT Mineola, L. l., Septem-
Der 3. 1908.
Stripped of legal phraseology here
is the paragraph that gives TO royalty
of Greece (by marriage) the bulk of
the Tin plate" millions:
If the son. William B. Leeds. Jr..
or issue of his shall survive the widow
(NIrs. Leeds No. ., now Princess An
astasia) three-fourths of the residuary
estate is TO be set aside for William
&. Leeds, Jr.. or his ISSUE"
In other words. if Princess Anasta-
STA dies her husband Prince Chris
topher. brother of King Constantine.
gets about S10.OOo.o00. and young
Leeds about S3O.O00.oO0. Then when
young Leeds dies, his royal widow or
their children, if any. will get the
$50 100000 or more of good American
money.
After the death of Mr.. Leeds and
in the years before his widow was
captured by the Greeks, she broke into
European society right and left-real
royalty's private grounds-beCauSe of
the Leeds millions at her command.
Many a dented title sought her hand
in marriage. Her marriage To Prince
Christopher occurred at Geneva on
January al. 1920, and made her a
cousin OF most of the royalty of Eu-
rome and gave her such exalted rank
as had not been held by an American
woman in many years. That's how