New-York tribune., 1922-09-30
"
Referee Rules Evidence
Fails to Show Guilt Of
Wife, but Plaintiff 8 Mis-.
conduct Is Admitted
Holds Baby Guy
Legitimate Heir
Testimony of Husbands
Witnesses Not Believed: i:
Cites Offers of Money
From a star cerresponasnt

PoUGHKEEPSIE, Sept. 2s.--vindi-
Gated on every count, her affirmative
defense sustained, and her baby son,
Guy, found legitimate, Mrs. Anne
Urquhart Stillman energies triumphant
from one Of the longest and most BIT
teliy contested divorce suits in the his
tory Of American courts, while her hus-
band, James A. Stillman, is quietly
making preparations to appeal the deci-
sion handed down by Referee Daniel
j. Gleason to-day.
The former president Of the National
City Bank is silent in his defeat as he
was throughout the period of two years
and three months during which he en-
ployed brilliant talent, brought hun
dreds of witnesses down from Canada
| and spent more than half million
dollars trying to prove that Mrs. Still
man was guilty Of misconduct with
Fred K Beauvass, an Indian .half-breed,
and that the blonde, blue-eyed Guy was
not his son.
In his decision, fied at Carmel, Put
nam County, and subject to the contir-
nation OF Supreme Court Justice Nor
schauser, Referee Gleason ruled:
Il find for the defendants as against
the plaintiff, establishing that the
charges against the adult defendant
defendant is legitimate and that the
defense setting forth the misconduct on
the part Of the plaintiff Is not only
substantiated but is conceded, and the
plaintiffs complaint should be dis
missed
Mr.. Stillman is found guilty Of mis-
conduct with Florence H., Leeds, for
mer chorus girl, and is declared to be
the father Of two children born to her.
The proof on this seoxe is declared
by the referee to be Overwhelming
and convincing" Tho charges Of mis-
conduct With two women described In
MRS. Stillmans affirmative defense as
"Helen' and CLARA were not sus-
tainad.
Referee Gleason left hero for Carmel
last night and filed the report ct 10
O'Clock this morning, leaving imme-
diately without making any comment.
In addition to his main report he filed
subsidiary statement Of ten para
graphs containing findings of law and
opinion. In this he cited the fact that
Mr.. and Mrs. Stillman were married
at Grace Church, New York, and gave
the dates Of the birth Of their chill
dren,
Boys Guardian Pleased
John e. Mack, guardian ad Ntem
for Guy, immediately announced he
would ask Justice Morschauser to con-
firm the referees findings here on Sat-
urday, October 7. At the same time
counsel for Mr.. Stillman sought 70
have the matter of confirmation come
up before Supreme Court Justice
Arthur Tompkins at Nyack on the same
day. Most Of the open court hearings
IN the case have come before Justice
Mrs. Stillman the record alimony Of
100000 year. He also granted the
shifting Of the hearings to Montreal
at the urgent request Of the defend
ant and in face Of protest from Mr..
Stillman's counsel
Outerbridge Horsey and Colonel Will
liam Rand, who has conducted most
Of the oss-examination at the hear
ings, arrived here early this morning
and visited in Referee Gleason's office
for the decision. They would make no
comment on it. Cornelius J. Sullivan,
Of the firm Of Nicoll, Anable, Fuller &
sullivan, dlSO LSiuSeU TO make state
ment, declining to say whether or not
the decision would be appealed He
has said repeatedly, however, that an
adverse decision would be followed by
an appeal. He intiinated that Mr., Still-
man, who was in or around New York
to-day, would have nothing to say. The
divorce issue, II Mrs. atillman does not
elect to sue, will ultimately be taken
to Paris, where the banker has a resi-
Gence.
Mrs. Leeds is in Paris at present.
Not long ago she created sensation
by appearing at the races with a
marvellous modiste's creation and what
the press dispatches described as
painted legs" In the early stages Of
the suit she baffied small army Of
Investigators who were searching the
country for her. Her will-o'-sh wisp
qualities became proverbial. She woula
be reported in n certain state or city.
and thon would vanish overnight. Her
authentic appearance in Paris was at
first greeted with akepticism. Il was
hard TO believe that she had material
ICED at last. Her little son is in q
Catholic protectory In New York.
Mrs. Stiilnlan Is motoring down from
her estate in Quebec with Bud, her
Continued on page ssssa)