New-York tribune., 1922-11-22
Wives and Law
sI4eecIles' Fleece
Ne, Says Stokes
Millionaire, as Own Attor-
ney, Inbosofns Self Of
Anger al tInsermyer and
Former Heller, Elwood
Reproaclles Mrs. I.ydig
Asserts She Tried TO Gel
500, 900 From Him So
She Could Wed DIR. Grant

The volcano of pctt up wrath that
has been boiling within the bosom Of
". e. D. Stokes, of which he gave only
mild intimation in his marital litiga
tion with Mrs. Helen Eiwood Stokes. ex-
pioded yesterday and scattered scorch-
ing verbal lava over a yoluminoug docu
ment which Mr.. Stokes. appearing as
his own attorney, fiied In the Supreme
Court
On its face, the paper is an applica-
sion for permission TO sell the prop
erty at 34i West Eighty-sixth Street,
move made necessary by Mr.. Stokes
being enjoined from such transfer by
the action of Mrs. Stokes TO establish
her dover rights in her husbands ex-
tcnsive property. But the typewriter
pages within the folder, containing in
nocuous title Of the proceedings at
bar. burn with excoriation and de-
runciation OF persons 10 whom Mr..
stokes attributes his tsou5 'es. To the
present Mrs. Stokes, TO Samuel Inter
mgcr, her attorney, and 70 Mrs. Philip
Lydig. who was his first wife and dt-
vorced him, and TO "a group OF lawyers,
who have attached themselves to my
own and to my sons lieutenant W. i.
d. Stokes ir.), properties like so many
ieeches without cause or excuse" Mr.
Stokes gives his attention with charges
of conspiracy and perjury.
Accuses Untermyer
Mr.. Stokes includes in his personally
composed document what he says are
letters he received from Mrs. Lydig
before she divorced Major Philip Nj.
Lydig, Of the American diplomatic
corps, 20 prove that she, the mother
of his son, w, +. D. Stokes jr., still
regarded him without fancor. 1t also
en1bodies a letter he wrote to Mr..
Untermyer charging him with having
obtained the evidence OF his former
wife against him knowing that it was
false. Mr.. Stokes suggested to Mr..
Untermyer that he make apology.
Mr. Stokes refers TO an alleged
letter from Mr.. Unternyer to Mrs.
Lydig, in which he charges that the
lawyer asked her to come to his office
tor an interview and promised it would
be TO the advantage of Mrs. Lydig TO
do so. Mrs. Lydig testified for Mrs.
Stokes, but did not return to court to be
cross examined Dy counsel for Mr..
Stokes, William Travers Jerome, who
appeared in court for her, informing
the justice that Mrs. Lydig was i'll.
Thereupon all the testimony given by
Mrs. Lydig was stricken from the rec
ord of the case.
Mr.. Stokes says it wns made to ap-
pear that his former wife was a wit
ness by accident. whereas. in fact, 1t
was a deeply laid scheme"
Mr.. Stokes, in his letter to Mir. Tn
'ermyer, said: "You got adjournments
and adjournments from the court, and
we had no end of trouble each time to
serve her (Mrs. Lydig). Finally, you
had your partner, at midnight, in West
Eighteenth Street, planning and as
sisting her escape, so get her out OF
her h~"se and ont of the state. 4.
and with the aid Of three doctors who
certined that to permit Mrs. Lydig to
be cross-examined by US would prob
ably result in her death, when that
very night she was out TO midnight
with DR.. Grant"
The DR.. Grant referred to In the let
ter is the Rev. Percy Stickney Grant,
rector of the Church of the Ascension,
20 whom Mrs. Lydig has heen engaged
for some time, but whose marriage has
been opposed by higher authorities Of
the Church.
Also appended to the papers OF Mr..
Stokes are copies of letters he received
from MIS-, Lydig asking financial aid. In
some of these letters the name of DR..
Grant also appears One letter, dated
May 20. 1921, says the writer owes The
Hotel Plaza $4,000, and that "Dr. Grant
has no income and too small salary
to care for any one but himself" Mrs.
Letter Asked for 100000
"Dr. Grant" the letter continued,
'believcs you gave me $2,000,000 for
my son, and l never intend to tell him
the contrary. 4 would spoil my life.
Now. Will, give 500 900 in cash with
which can pay for the house in the
country, buy Washington Square and
put it in order for my permanent home
and arrange with DR.. Grant TO give me
$4,000 year. On the S25, 900 you
promised me for July I am putting
the farm house in shape"
MI: Stokes said Mrs. Lydig received
$4,000 from him for her hotel bill, but