The Washington times., 1921-03-10
STOKES SAYS8'
COURTED WIFE.
+, Millionaire N. Y. Hotel Owner
Names New Correspondent
in Separate Action.

Helen Elwood Stokes left the court
house yesterday, where she was de-
Tending her good name in the divorce
suit brought by her husband, Will
liam Earl Dodge Stokes, q summons
in a new divorce suit was served on
her.
NAMES OIL MAGNATE.
Seven correspondents are named in
the action now pending by her hus-
band. The new suit adds another
to the list, naming Edgar T. Wallace,
an oil magnate of San Francisco, now
married.
The complaint accuses Mrs. Stokes
of misconduct with him in a house
in Thirty-third street. This is at an
address, which witnesses have testi-
fed Mrs. Stokes frequently visited
two years ago. The young wife
bands action.
Recently Mr. Stokes sought to
amend the seven-co-respondent suit
by dropping three names, including
that Of his own son, w. e. d. Stokes.
jr.. and adding Wallace's name. Su-
preme Court Justice Ford refused to
grant the amendment and ordered the
case to immediate trial.
SUES FOR ALIMONY.
Mrs. Stokes is carrying on a suit
for separation and alimony from her
husband simultaneously with the
present divorce. The new litigation
means another trial at the completion
Of the present one, IL Mr.. Stokes
should lose the present case. The
crowd of spectators was SO dense at
the doors yesterday that officers had
to drive them back by physical force.
The Testimony and cross-examina-
tion were of the sort to remind the
audience Of a first-night at a Broad
way boudoir farce. Lingerie was the
motif with garters, corsets and stock
ings completing the vivid verbal pic
lures outlined by the witnesses
against Mrs. Stokes. Even the prin-
cipals and properties of the marital
drama would have been familiar to
play-goers.
THE AGED, IRATE HUSBAND.
There was the aged. irate husband.
the pretty petted wife, the handsome
young stranger described as a cousin,
a squad Of servants listening over
banisters, and doors banging end
lessly. Even Mrs. Stokes had to laugh
more than once. y And her husband
relaxed enough to smile.
Juliette Gassan-Groeger, some
what attractive Austrian. former
nurse to the Stokes children, and
SafHn Janet Gates, a wholly attrac-
tive Canadian, were the chief wit
nesses. Martin w. Littleton, counsel
for Mrs. Stokes. put them through
the ordeal by Interrogation so thor
oughly that at the finish he was him
self confused as to what they were
trying to explain. Nine. Gassan-
Groeger and Miss Gates amazed the
lawyer by their ability to see around
corners and to describe the intricate
manouevres which Mrs. Stokes was
said to have gone through every time
she took a walk.
STILL IN STOKES PAY.
Nine. Groeger drew a diagram Of
the Ansonia Hotel to explain how
Mrs. Stokes marched each night
through mysterious Railways and un-
expected doors, supposedly to elude
her husbands vigilance. Mr.. Little
ton stared at the sketch. shook his
ponderous head and tossed the paper
on the table hopelessly. Mrs. Stokes
broke into a laugh that had in 1t
note of derision.
Then Nine. Groeger suddenly re-
called that she had made a mistake
in her damaging testimony against
the wife on Tuesday and begged to
correct it. She said that instead OF
the S105 monthly payments to her
from Stokes stopping last June. when
she was married. they had continued
right on ani that she was still re-
ceiving the money. Quickly calculating
Mr. Littleton said the woman had re-
ceived more than $4,000 since she had
left Mrs. Stokes employ and asked
what she was ding for Mr.. Stokes in re-
turn. The witness responded:
ADMITS GETTING MONEY
IT expect to receive IL until this
case is ended. do nothing for It."
Mr.. Littleton favored the witness
with a fatherIy smile. but she retain
ed her composure. Then the lawyer
led her back over the lingerie trial
which she had outlined in previous
testimony. rh's covered the adven-
lures of Hal Billig. Mrs. Stokes
mothers cousin, and, in a manner OF
speaking. uncovered Mrs. Stokes in
embarrassing environment. Nine.
Groeger repeated many times that
Mr. Billig had entered Mrs. Stokes
room, adding as she tested new de-
tails to the scenery. Thus she said:
MIRA Stokes gown"
"Gown7" aueried Mr.. Littleton, in
nocently puzzled. "What kind of
gown? A nightgown?"
-Oh. nor responded the witness,
-stonished at the learned attorneys
ignorance. -An evening gownw
oh. L see," as.eed the enlightened
Littleton, as though visualizing the
process. and only Supreme Court
Justice Finch succeeded In main
tanning his austerity. Then came q
recital of a time when Mrs. Stokes
was swapping her garters into place.
and another which was distinguished
by the fact that she moved about
in a silken combination Mr.. Little
ton had to consult with his client
frequently to get all these things in
their proper places In his mind.
The incidents had occurred in New
York, Denver. Estey Park, and
Troutdale.
BILLIG Is ON HAND.
Mrs. Stokes watched the witness
closely and frequently wrote memo
randa and whispered suggestions for
thr CrOaa-era m in afiop Tho hlond