The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-29
Defense of N. Y. Bankers Wife
Upheld by Referee.
Stillman's Claim for Absolute
Divorce Is Denied.
BANKER HIMSELF is GUILTY
MiscOnducted Himself With
Former Broadway Beauty.
Baby Guy Retains Right to
Share in Big Fortune.
(By the Associated Press.J

(By the Associated Press)
Carmel, N. J., Sept. 29.-James A.
Stillman, former president of the Ma
tional City bank of New York, was
denied a decree in his suit for ahso-
Lutte divorce against his wife. Anne U.
Stillnan, and Baby Guy Stiliman. was
declared legitimate in the findings OF
Daniel J. Gleason, referee in the case
which were filed here today.
The referees decision was a COM
plete victory for Mrs. Stillman. Not
only was her defense upheld but the
referee also confirmed her charges
that Mr.. Stillman had miSconducted
himself with Florence II. Leeds, for
mer Broadway show girl, and that
Mrs. Leeds had borne two children.
In regard to Mrs. Stillman's charges
that her banker husband had also mis-
conducted himself, with two other
women, identified only as Helen"
and Clara" Referee Gleason decided
| that the evidence was not sufficient
to prove the allegations of intimate
relations. .-.-.'.--
Two of the bankers attorneys, Col.
William Rand and Outerbridge Hor-
sey, waiting to hear the decision in
Mr.. Gleason's office at Poughkeepsie.
declined to say whether they intended
| to appeal from, the referees findings.
Stillman Had Reason.
The referee wrote the testimony ad-
duced by Mr.. Stillman in support of
his charges that Mrs. Stillman mis-
conducted herself with Fred Beauvais,
the part Indian guide alleged by the
banker to be the father of little Guy
| Stillman, "uncontradicted and unex-
planned was sufficient to Justify him
tStillman) in believing Mrs Stiilman
guilty of the charges made against
her.
"A careful examination, however,
of all the testimony" said his report,
| has shaken my faith ard belief In
| the testimony of the witnesses called
/ In the plaintiffs behalf"
| Thru his mothers victory Guy Still
man retains his right as an heir with
his two brothers and sister to the
| $6,000,0 600 trust fund created for them
| by their grandfather, the late James
/ Sti1lman.
StilIman Counsel Silent.
| New York, Sept. 29.-Cornelius J.
Sullivan, counsel for James A Still
man, declined today to comment on
the report of Referee Daniel J. Giea-
/ son, filed in Carmel, recommending
denial of Stillman's suit for divorce
from Mrs. Anne U. stillman. until he
| had seen a copy of the referees re-
port. He would not say in advance
whether an appeal would be taken
| from the decision, which also declared
| baby Guy Stillman legitimate.
He said Mr.. Stillman was in tho
city, but declined to make known his
whereabouts. asserting he was sure
Mr.. Stillman would have nothing to
say at this time.
The StilIman divorce case. in which
the principals accused one another OF
being the parents of illegitimate chill
dren, has been in many ways with
out parallel in the history of domestic
| ruptures in American high society.
Charged With InfideIity.
James A. Stillman, who instituted the
court proceedings, was president OF
the National City bank of New York,
the son of a former head of that instf-
tuition and a noted multi millionaire.
He charged his wife, the former Fiji
Potter, famous beauty, of infidelity,
saying she was guilty. of misconduc.
from 1916 thru 1919 with Fred
Beauvais, an Indian guide at their
summer camp near Three Rivers. Que
bee. Mr.. Stillman declared Beauvais
was the father of Guy Stillman, born
to Mrs. Stillman in November. 1919.
This charge was denied by Mrs.
Stillman. In retaliation she accused
her husband of misconduct with three
women. One of those named was
Florence H. Leeds. a former Broad
way show girl. The other two were
identified as Helen" and Clara"
Made Counter Charges
Mrs Stillman asserted her husbana
was the father of two children born
to Mrs. Leeds, the daughter Of y
New York plumber. One infant died
at birth. The other, Jay Ward Leeds.
born in September. 1919. is living and
Mrs. Sti1lman said her husband had
furnished the mother with luxurious
homes in New York and on Long L.
, land. and that he lived with her ard
her. child in these places. posing un-
der the name of 'Frankiyn Harold
Leeds
When Mr.. Stillnan was ouizzed by
his wife's attorneys curing A hea ring
in their case last summer he refused
to answer any questions based on his
alleged misconduct with Mrs. Leeds.
His invariable reply was. Il refuse to
answer on the grounG that il might
tend to incriminate meg'
In their interrogations his ~ife's
lawyers asked whether the banker
and Mrs. Leeds had fRld gay drink
ing parties in cafes of Manhattan ana
that they had slipped champagne from
golden cups aboard mis- yacht, the
"Modesty." Other questions con-
cerned allegations that Mr. StIilma7
and the former Broadway show g.rl
night. and that they had peen On out
ings together at Atlantic City and
Miami. Fla
Often Together.
Witnesses for Mr.. Stillman told OF
seeing his wife and Fred Beauvais in
rooms at the Canadian camp and in q
hotel few miles away. Servants tes-
titled that they were often together
at the Stillman country estate in the
Pocantico Hills. near the nome 81
John d. Rockefeller. One OF them
sins to the baby Guy. inscribing IN
fC7onffnue6 IN pao TTVoIve Il