The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-10-06
STILLMAN DENIED
DIVORCE DECREE
DECISION COMPLETE VIC
TORY FOR WIFE
HER CHARGES UPHELD
Baby Child Is Also Declared Le-
ultimate; Document
Filed Today
Associated Press Dispatch-1

York, was denied a decree in his
suit for absolute divorce against his
wife, Anne U. Stillman, and baby
Guy Stillman was declared legiti-
mate in the finding of Daniel J.
Gleason, referee in the case which
were filed here today.
The referees dcision 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 H. Leeds for
mer Broadway show girl, and that
Mrs. Leeds had borne two children.
In regard to Mrs. Sullman' S
charges that her banker husband
had also miSconducted himself with
two other women, identified only as
Helen and CLARA" Referee Glea-
so ndecided that the evidence was
not sufficient to prove the allega-
tons OF adultery.
Attorneys Decline To Comment
Two OF the bankers attorneys,
Colonel William Rand and Outer
bridge Horsey, waiting to hear the
decision in Mr. Gleason's office at
Poughkeepsie, declined to say whe
Their they intended to appeal from
the referees findings.
q The referee wrote the testimony
adduced by Mr.. Stillman in support
of. his charges that Mrs. Stillman mis-
conducted herself with Fred Bea-
vais. part Indian guide, alleged by
Inc banker to be the father of little
Guy Stillman ''uncontradicted and
unexplained was sufficient to justify
him in believing Mrs. Stillman gull
ty of the charges made against her. "
"A careful examination, however,
of all the testimony" said his re-
port, has shaken my faith and be-
lief in the testimony of the wit
nesses called III the plaintiffs be-
half"
Through his mothers victory
Guy Sullman retains his rights as
an heir with his two brothers and
created for them by their grandfath
er, the late James Stillman.
StilIman Case Reviewed
The Stillman divorce case, in
which the principals accused one
another Of being the parents of IL
legitimate children, has been in
many ways without parallel in the
history of domestic ruptures in
American high society.
b James A. Stillman, who instituted
the court proceedings, was presi-
dent of the National City Bank of
New York, the SON of former head
of that institution and noted null
ii millionaire. He charged his wife,
the former Fiji Potter, famous
beauty of infidelity. saying she was
guilty of misconduct from 1915
through 1919 with Fred Beauvais,
an Indian guide at their summer
camp near Three Rivers, Quebec.
Mr.. Stillman declared BeauVais was
the father of Guy Stilman, born to
Mrs. Stillman in November, 1919.
This charge was denied by Mrs.
Stillman. In retaliation she accus-
ed her husband of misconduct with
three women. One of those named
was Florence H. Leeds, a former
Broadway show girl. The other two
were identified as Helen" and
Clara"
Mrs. Stillman asserted her hus-
band was the father of two children
born to Mrs. Leeds, the daughter Of
New York, plumber. One infant
died at birth. The other, Jay Ward
Leeds, born in September, 1919, is
living and Mrs. Stillman said her
husband had furnished the mother
with luxurious homes in New YORK
and on Long Island, and that he
lived with her and her cid in these
places, posing under the name or
"Franklyn Harold Leeds"
The StiIIman Reply
When Mr.. Stillman was quiZzed
by his wife's attorneys during a
hearing in their case last summer,
he refused to answer any questions
based on his alleged misconduct
with Mrs. Leeds. His invariable
reply was 81 refuse to answer on
the ground that it might tend to in
eliminate me-"
In their interrogations his wife's
lawyers asked whether the banker
and Mrs. Leeds had held gay drink
ing parties in cafes of Manhattan
and that they had slipped cham
pagn from golden cups abroad his
yacht, the "Modesty." Other ques-
tions concerning allegations that
Mr.. Stillman and the former Broad, :,
way show girl often remained
aboard the yacht all night, and that
they had been on outings together
at Atlantic City and Miami. Fla.
Witnesses for Mr.. Stlllman tolo
OF seeing HIS "lIS Shu HAS -.
vais in rooms at the CANADIAN
camp and in a hotel rev mlles
away. Servants testified that they
were often together at the Stillman
country estate in the Pocantico HIS
near the, home of John D. Rockefel-
Ter. One of them asserted that Beau
vais gave moccasins to the baby
Guy, inscribing in one Of them y
hope Guy will always love his moth :
er, and in the other Il hope Guy
will some day know his father"
A nurse who was present at the
birth of Guy Stillman testified thai
Mrs. Stillman directed her to send
a telegram to Beauvais in Canada
iaying Little Black Bear has Ar
rived" Later witnesses for Mrs
StiIlman explained that she hac
agreed before birth of Guy to senc
notices to several friends and to hel
children which would say Little
white bear" if the newborn babe
was a girl and little black bear
should the child be boy.
/ Offered Mrs. Stillman's Letters
Mr.. Stillman presented as .evj'
dence letters offered as having beer
! written to Mrs Stillman by Beau
vais. Purported copies Of these
contained many amo1rous phrase!
and references to Guy.
| French Canadian witnesses brough
down from the province of Quebe'
were reported to have told of peep
ing through keyholes and windows
at Mrs. Stillman and BeauVais II
the months preceding Guys birth.
/ Startling testimony given by DR.