The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-29
STILLMAN SPEAKS
Wife's Attorneys Expect to
Turn the Tables.
Embarrassing Questions To Be
Fired at Husband.
GARDENER SPRINGS SURPRISE
Tells How He Listened in"
on the Telephone.
Heard Indian Tell Her to
"Imagine His Hug"
GARDENER SPRINGS SURPRISE

Poughkeepsie, June 29.-James A.
Stillman, New York banker. was re-
ported to have gone on the witness
stand this afternoon for cross-exami-
nation in the divorce suit which he in
stituted against Mrs. Anne u. Stillman.
The banker was said to have been
taken into the building where Referee
Gleason is holding hearings early this
morning, before a corps of reporters
and camera men posted themselves on
the sidewalk. 1t was planned to have
him remain inside until after night
fall in order to evade photographers,
the newspaper men were informed.
Gardener Listened In"
An account of telephone eavesdrop-
ping on a conversation between Mrs.
Stillman and Fred Beauvais was
spread upon the records. Edward J.
Lawlor. landscape gardener at Still
mans estate in the Pocantico hills
was understood to have related what
he heard at dusk one evening when he
was listening in" on this telephone
conversation. Mrs. Stillman was
speaking from New York. where she
had been shopping all day, and
Beauvais from the Blue cottage" of
the Pleasantville home, he says.
open the window and imagine that
Was told Mrs. Stillman in answer TO
Mrs. Stillman, who had said, ''I am
all tired out from shopping and ready
to go to bed. Good night"
The gardeners story, which was
rendered behind closed doors, but, as
usual leaked out to the newspaper
men. gave rise to sharp quarreling be-
tween opposing counsel John E
Mack, guardian for little Guy Sti1lman,
was quoted as having referred to the
witness as a "snooping servant and d
sneak"
Sent Bcautais Cake.
The second bombshell sprung by the
gardener was his testimony that on
November 8, 1919, after a birthday
party for little Guy-he was a wear
old that day-Mrs. Stillman wrote to
Beauvais:
Dear Freddie: This is Guys birth
day and I am sending you piece of
the cake"
A letter bearing these words was
introduced and Lawlor identified the
handwriting as Mrs. Stillman's. He
insisted in answer to heckling from
Mrs. Stillman. that he was not hostile
to her but that he felt that he must
tell the truth" He admitted having
made frequent trips to New York to
confer with Stillman's counsel. The
gardeners wife, Mrs. Ida Lawlor, also
testified today. She was employed as
a. cook al the Pleasantville home.
Stillman was reliably reported this
afternoon to be in Referee Gleason S
court room, ready to take the witness
stand.
,z-.= Try to Turn Tables.
AS the hour drew near for the stag
ing of a new act in the great society
drama. it became clear that its fea-
ture will be an attempt by Mrs. Still
mans counsel to turn the tables COM
plotely upon her i-millionaire hus-
band.
They will try TO force him to admit
under oath the parentage of the little
son OF Mrs. Florence Helen Leeds
former roof garden Chicken" If he
denies it. they propose to try to iden-
tify him by witnesses as Franklin
Harold Leeds and to lay bare an amaz-
ing story of alleged dual life.