The New York herald., 1921-05-09
STILLMAN DIVORCE
WITNESSES VANISH
Several Reported to Have Re-
pudiated Their First State
ments i'm Ex-Banker's Suit.

1t now develops that the real reason
for the halt in the hearings in the Still
man divorce action was not because the
attorneys agreed upon 1t. but because
numerous witnesses who were depended
upon by James A. Stillman either have
disappeared or have disavowed their
first stories.
1t is reported that several of the
bankers witnesses decamped' because
they did not care to face the condem
nation the public has poured upon Ike
efforts to outcast the baby, Guy. Otn-
ers, it is said have let it he known
that they do not intand running away
and similarly do not intend to help the
former bank president win a divorce.
Several are said to complain that they
had no idea what the bankers plan was
when they were approached and asked
TO testify.
There Is still another set of witnesses
who, for one reason or another, have
repudiated their first statements. They
now say that they saw nothing and
heard nothing that would discredit Mrs.
Stillman in the slightest degree. The
majority of these witnesses were ser
wants in the various Stillman places
On the other hand, 1t is said Mrs.
-
largely. Former servants. persons who
were guests of the Stillmans at different
times. theatrical folk. several socially
prominent women, tradespeople and doc
tors have volunteered to testify for Mrs.
rStillman.
There Is Just as much mystery con-
corning the whereabouts of Mr.. Stillman
as there is about Florence Lawlor Leeds
the chorus girl whom Mrs. Stillman
lvaav L.. l. =
answer. Detectives employed by Mrs
Stillman's lawyers are busy trying TO
find both of them. Detectives also have
been assigned to watch two other
women who probably will be named by
Mrs. Stillman in her second amendment
The yacht Modesty is supposed to be
near New York. either In the Hudson
River or Long Island Sound. But the
detectives report considerable trouble in
checking up all of its owners activities.
1t Is said that he has deserted, at least
temporarily, his favorite clubs.
Unless the programme Is changed the
hearings win be resumed on May Is or
IL, probably not In the rooms of the
Bar Association.
One Of the first things Mrs. Stillman
proposes doing when she begins her de-
fence before the referee Is to refute the
testimony OF George Adams the woods
man who says he saw her and Fred
Reauvals in room at the Blackburne
House at Grande Anse. Adams claimed
that Beauvals and Mrs. Stillman were
at Grande Anse a week.
The proprietor of the house and his
records will be brought to New York to
show that they were in Grande Anse
only one night and that in November,
1918. Adams testified ne spied through
the window In Mrs. Stl'lman's room for
almost thirty minutes. 1t will be shown
by records and by witnesses that the
thermometer registered about fifty de-
grees below zero and that gale was
raging at that time. Therefore. Il will
be contended. II would have been
physical impossibility for Adams 10 have
stood at the window for anything like.
that length OF time and live.
Adams said that he never told any
one about this until the twelfth Of last
month, when he told Francois Lajole, a
lawyer. II will be shown that he was
here in New York talking to Mr.. Stilis
mans attorneys last November and
again In January