New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-03
Stillnan Notes
To Mrs. Leeds
ReportedFound
Wife's Attorneys Said to
Have Bundle of Letters
Thrown Out Of Both ST.
Apartment by Servant
Chorus Girl May File Suit
Any Court Action on Behalf
of Self or Her Child Will
Meet Strong Opposition


Potter Stillman, wife Of James A.
Stillman. the fnarcier, have antici-
pated any court action which might
be taken by Florence Lawlor Leeds,
former chorus girl, named by Mrs.
Stillman as correspondent, in the
amended answer to her husbands COM
plant in his suit for divorce. They
sre prepared to resist the former
chorus girls every effort to get any
kind of legal settlement in the case,
either for herself or her child, Jay
Leeds.
One attorney said yesterday that ne
did not believe Mrs. Leeds would ever
intervene in the divorce case or would
ever find it necessary to file any
action on account OF herself or her
child. We allege," he continued, Chat
Jay Leeds is the son Of James A. Still
man. and that Mr.. Stillman and Mrs.
Leeds have been and are on terms of
understanding.
eve will protect Mrs. Stillman's in
terests against her husband, Mrs.
Leeds or the whole world, if neces-
sary."
Stillman Letters Reported Found
Alleged letters from Mr.. Stillman to
Mrs. Leeds said to refer to certain
trips they have taken together were
the subject Of considerable discussion
yesterday by Mrs. Stillman's attorneys.
1t is said these letters were discovered
among a mass of rubbish taken from
the boudoir of Mrs. Leeds in an apart
ment on Eighty-sixth Street. 1t is known
that the career Of Mrs. Leeds since her
cabaret days has been carefully inves-
.igated.
The famous case Of Mrs. A. L. John
son, known on the London musical
comedy stage as Peggy Marsh. who
sued the Marshall Field estate on be-
half of her alleged illegitimate son,
Henry Anthony Marsh, was cited yes
terday in a discussion of the possible
rights of Mrs. Leeds's son to a part OF
the Stillman fortune. Mrs. Johnson
was never able to collect for her son
from the Field estate, although the
Field family had paid her an allowance
for years.
The next purely technical legal move
in the case will be made Monday when
John F. Brennan, Yonkers attorney.
representing Mrs. Stillman, files the
formal order under the alimony award
Of Justice Morschauser. After this is
done the attorneys for Mr.. Stillman
are expected to take immediate appeal.
The letters ruled out as evidence by
Justice Morschauser were separated
from the record OF the case yesterday
by the court clerk, who was instructed
to hold them pending the appeal.
Despite the opinion expressed by
Mrs. Stillman's friends that Mrs,
tect her interests in the case, there
was a persistent report yesterday that
she had been warned to keep away
from New York, that she was getting
nervous and had retained an attorney
to look after her interests
Discussing Mrs. Leeds's Status
"Regarding Mrs. Leeds's rights in
this case" said man closely identi-
fed with the defense of the divorce
case, "it is nay opinion that she hasn't
any man can have only one
wife, and Mr.. Stillman seems to- have
one. They used to be aisle to have two
cut in Utah, but they are putting
them in Jail for that now. Mrs. Leeds
CANNOT CldlUI dliy ilkHto tJHc CdHliOS
even win a breach Of promise suit if
1t can be proven she Nnew Mr.. Still
man was married, and I believe she did.
~ do not believe the attorneys for
Mrs. Stillman are interested in any
Investigations of Mrs. Leeds's past
The fact that she had a manager
named Leeds in her cabaret days and
that he got her Job on Broadway, if
that is true, is not material. Attorneys
do not care if she was acquainted with
one or twenty men, or how many have
lowered in the background. They are
interested only in one fact and that
is: Did Mr. Stillman commit certain
illegal act or acts with Mrs. Iced :"
1t has been charged that he did and
on that basis, the case will go for
ward. Neither do attorneys care if
there we're one or twenty mysterious
women"
The letters said to be from Mr..
Stilman were thrown out of the
apartment on Eighty-sixth Street,
when Mrs. Leeds began to refurnish
and decorate after she had met Mr..
Stiilman, it is said. Mrs. Leeds moved
into a hotel while the improvements
we're being made, and in her absence
a servant bundled up the letters, it
Is charged, and threw them out,where
upon, they were retrieved ty some in
terested person and later disposed Of
by him as possible evidence in the