New-York tribune., 1921-12-11
Brennan Offers to Bring
33 Witnesses To Swear
Bankers Agents Sought to
Corrupt Their Testimony
Names of Two Revealed
Commission to Begin Its
First Open Hearings i'm
Montreal ON January Ill
srer q stor Correspondent


preme Court justice, for the appoint
ment of = Canadian commission, John
+. Brennan, chief counsel FOR Mrs.
Anne Urquhart Stillman, to-day charged
that agents Of James A. Stillman at
tempted to corrupt and bribe prospcc-
tive witnesses in the trial Of his d.
vorce suit. His allegations would be
supported by the testimony Of thirty
three witnesses, he said.
When asked by Outerbridge Horssy
counsel for Mr.. Stillman, to name tho
agents, Mr.. Brennan said he would
withhold at present the names of all
except two-Francis Lajoie and j. AL
bert La Fontaine, both residents of the
Province of Quebec. Through them, he
charged, witnesses had been offered
money, good position or good time
in New York, provided they would
swear to misconduct on tho part OF
Mrs. Stillman and Fred X. Beauvais, CO.
respondent in the divorce suit.
After argument on both sides rela-
tive to the charges, it was agreed that
the Canadian commission should be
appointed to take testimony in Mon
tresl. Justice Morschsuser will an
nounce the name of the commissioner
soon. He will be an attorney Of the
Montreal bar. The hearings will be-
gin on January II, and as result Of
the motion made by Mr.. Brennan, and
supported by John E. Mack, guardian
ad litem for Guy Stillman, will be the
first open hearings in the history of
the case.
Just Back From Canada
In fling his affidavit Mr.. Brennan
explained that it had not been made
by Mrs. Stillman personally, because
he was better qualified to set forth the
facts, inasmuch as he had just returned
from a trip to Canada. made for the
express purpose of investigating the
Canadian testimony. After he made his
motion for the appointment of spe-
cial commission to go to Canada, Jus
tice Morschauser said:
"Do you mean an open commission :"
"That is what they DESIRE" interject-
ed Mr.. Horsey.
Asked by Justice Morschausex II
they could not agree on q man to be
nemed in Canada for the position, Mr..
Horsey said:
81 don't know about that He will
have to take the testimony Of at least
charges that bribery and corruption
were committed"
Justice Morschauser leaned across
with a surprised and startled air.
do you mean that the plaintiff at
tempted to bribe witnesses, or is that
only an allegation of the defense :?
Do you mean that witnesses who have
testified here have been bribed?"
Mr.. Mack replied:
w kA<t.
ruption or otherwise, the witnesses re-
ceived money in excess Of travelling
expenses, living expenses and legal al
iowances for loss Of time involved"
Asked Names of Accused
ment of a commission In this extraor-
dinary proceeding for the examination
of thirty-three witness in foreign
country, we want to know the names
OF the persons who are accused of
bribery and corruption as agents of
the plaintiff" interposed Mr.. Horsey.
81 gather from the papers that there
are several classes of witnesses to be
examined, including those who have
already testified, those whose testimony
was sought by both sides, and wit
case, but whom one j. Albert La Fon-
taine attempted unsuccessfully to
suborn.
'No evidence is offered to connect
La Fontaine with the plaintiff. Then
there are ten diverse and sundry agents
of the plaintiff mentioned. All that is
perfectly worthless, but we are willing
to waive it, provided we have the
meager information az to the name of
all the persons who are said to be
agents of the plaintiff and who at
tempted to suborn witnesses. l want
to know who these mysterious people
arc the defence has up it's sleeve and
intends to spring on us up in Canada.
] want to be prepared to cross-examine
them. We certainly will never submit
TO the production Of unnamed persons
before the Commissioner"
eve can name two persons now and
there are Others" said Mr.. Brennan.
s'They are j. Albert La Fontaine and
Francois Lajoie. You will admit, Mr..
Horsey, that there were the plaintiffs s
sgents?"
ooh, you can put me on the stand in
replied Mr.. Horsey.
ayes, we can do that,' said Mr.
Brennan.
ave prefer then that the court select
an attorney of the Montreal bar as
commissioner" declared Mr.. Horsey.
The argument finished with Justice
Morschauser's declaration;
'sI'll do it. I'll inquire up there and
appoint IL man. ! have ways of finding
the proper person to serve. So now
you will all go TO Canada"
Brennan Outlines Issues
Mr.. Brennan outlined the issues in
the divorce suit and the charge of IL
Legitimacy directed at Guy. He sub
mitted the question of whether Mr.
Stillman had not misconducted himself
with Florence H. Leeds and two other
women, known only as Clara and Helen
After setting forth the counter-charges,
Mr. Brennan pointed out that Mrs
Stillman could not "safcly proceed to
the conclusion Of the case without first
obtaining due proof of the said facts,
which constitute her defense, by the
examination Of residents Of Rap River,
Grand Anse, Grand Piles, Latuque,
Lake Wyagamack, Caughnawaga, Three
Rivers and Montreal"
Of the witnesses named by Mr.. Bren-
nan to appear for the defense before
tho Canadian commission the follow
ing will testify that La Fontaine Of
fered them money, or trips, or both, il
they would swear they saw Mira. Still
man and Beauvais together in compro-
missing circumstances: Joseph Black
burn, Rap River, Qnebec; Ferdinand
Germain, Grand Anse; Armand Page,
1.atuque; Joseph La Marche, Lutuque,
and Raoul Gupere, Latuque.
George Giguere, resident of Grand
Aosa mill Testify that ", Iune or J,Ylv-