The New York herald., 1921-05-24
STILLMANS NEARER
SETTLEMENT; EXILE
With GUY BLOCKS IT
Bankers Wife Refuses to
Stay Abroad for Years,
Then Sue for Divorce.
DISAGREE OVER MONEY
Proposal of $4,000 An
nually for Mrs. Stillman
Ignores Child in Dispute.
MANY TERMS ACCEPTED
Lawyers Confer Day and Night
-Agreementif Conditions
Are Modified.
MANY TERMS ACCEPTED

Settlement of the James A. Stillman
divorce suit now depends entirely on
whether the banker will modify the
conditions that have been served on
the lawyers representing his wife, Mrs.
Anne Urquhart Potter Stilfman. Tho
issue on which the negotiations so far
have split has been the future resi-
dence OF Mrs. Stillman.
One Of the conditions set down by
Mr.. Stillman for settlement is that
she shall live in France for several
years-it is said that he has insisted
on five years-and this condition Mrs.
Stillman is not willing to accept. 1t
was said last night on her behalf that
under no circumstances will she agree
to place herself under virtual exile SO
that there will be no prospect Of her
coming in contact socially with Mr..
Stillman In the future. This is said
to be the object Of the former banker.
1t was understood that many OF the
set down by Mr.. Stillman
are acceptable to his wife. The condi-
tions as a whole were the subject Of a
conference of her lawyers which be-
gan yesterday morning in the offices
OF Stanchfield & Levy in 100 Broadway
and came to an end last night in Mrs.
Stillman's town house. 91o Fifth ave-
nue..
Financial Proposals.
out OF this conference it developed
settlement Is concerned Mr.. Stillman has
offered to pay his wife $4,000 a year
and to provide separately FOR their three
eldest children. Miss Anne Stillman. 1s
years old James A.. Jr., II. and Alex
ander IL. No mention Is made Of a
provision for Guy. the infant whose pa
ternity Is denied by The banker, in the
proposition submitted to Mrs. Stillman's
attorneys. So far as Mrs. Stilman is
concerned, It was said last night, the
proposition has been rejected. although
1t is considered likely that the offer of
provision for the three children will be
accepted.
In regard to their future relations
Mr. Stllman suggests condition which
would be virtually legal separation, al
though there Is no suggestion of q. future
court proceeding in which either may
seek to sever the marital ties ompletcly
1t is understood. however. that II there
Is a settlement something in the nature
Of .,.gtt ~
tered into whereby Mrs. Stilman will
start a suit at some later date and to
which the banker will set up no defence
other than a general denial OF the alle-
cations.
Pressure for settlement.
II developed last night that Mr. Still
man was prevailed upon TO seek a set
tlement by business associates and by
Mrs. Florence Leeds the former chorus
girl who has been named In Mrs. Still
mans affirmative defence. The business
associates. II Is understood. were the
first to approach John b. Stanchfield.
Of Mrs. Stllman's counsel. through an
other attorney. whose identity Is being
kept secret. This lawyer went TO the
office OF Mr.. Stanchfield last week with
copy Of the conditions and also visited
the home OF Mrs Stillman. II was fol-
lowing this that Mrs. stillman went 20
see John Il. Mack, guardian ad litem
for Guy, IN Arlington, ". Y.
There then followed an interchange
OF telephone messages between the law
yers which resulted in calling yester-
~ oxrfo ~Nxx NJ dnd
Mr.. Mack, John r. Brennan OF Yonkcrs.
Mr.. Stanchield. Abel 7. Smith. William
M. Parks and George Coggill OF the
flrm OF Cadwalader. Wiclersham &
Taft. all associated In the defence Of
Mrs. Stfilman and Guy. II was re-
ported after the conference tnat the
lawyers agreed unanimously to reject
the proposals regarding a foreign resi-
dence for Mrs. Stiilman and those con-
cerning the financial arrangement 80
far as II referred to her. Other condi-
tons were tentatively accepted.
In addition to the pleadlngs OF Mrs.
Leeds and the urgings OF his business as
sociates. II is stated that Mr.. Stlllman
is keenly anxious for settlement be-
cause of the knowledge that his wife's
attorneys have obtained possession OF
two sets OF letters which. II Is declared,
would likely prove very damaging to his
case. These letters arc said to have
passed between Mr.. Stillman and a
woman not vet mentioned In the case
This fact ls reported to have influenced
him almost as much as the evident fact
that Mrs. Leeds did not want the case
to go on. as she did not wish to give
Mrs. Stillman an opportunity TO delvo
Continued on Ninth Page.