New-York tribune., 1922-02-02
Stokes Swears
He Was WoOed
By Miss Elwood
Declares Present Wife Flat
tered Him Into Wedding
by Telling Him She Was
in Love for First Time
Called a s.Social Pirate
Expression Used by Witness
Who Asserts Bride Knew
She Signed a Conveyance


ror the first time since he became
involved IN litigation with Mrs. Helen
Elwood stokes. V l. y. Stokes. mil
'io1siro real estate operator took the
witness stand IN the Supreme Court
yesterd He testified IN the trial Of
the action brought b. Mrs. stokes to
set sside conveyances by her husband
ri fortv-nire parcels OF real estate,
which. she alieges. we're made to de-
traud her Of her dover rights. Mrs,
stokes charges that her signature was
obtained by fraudulent means and
threat.
Mr Stokes told how hc had met Miss
ilwocd. Of Denver, now Mrs. Stokes II
wss II the Hotel Ansonia. which he
formerly owned. He was attracted by
her apparent taste FOR art. He showed
te- paintings III his hotel. An invita-
+ion u dinner followed and they dined
With Dr. HeNdrick and Mrs Hendricks
They talked after the dinner, SAID Mr.
stokes. snd Miss Livood coufded that
sre vas lonesome and that she had q
wealthy but cold stepfather who al
owed her s55 month 10 study French
md music N New York. Mr.. Stokes
said he would try to help her after she
had asted his ASSISTANCE
Subsequentlv. said the witness. th.
present Mrs. Stokes INFORMED him she
aad received 2 check from her ster-
atser with instructions to return
nome
"She hecan to crv and talked Of SUI
ri1e.' said Nr stoke. She SAID that
ne did not want to leave New York
1ecsuse her 'ifo hsd generally been
unpleasant and that she would miss me
cry much
Questioned b. hrs attorney. |. Gains
burg. Mr. Stokes admitted Ire was fiat
'ered llo told Of q conversation he
rad with the Young woman from Den
1cr Just prior to his proposal Of mar
-iege. ~ said to heg. y OIL are pretty -
thc witness testified. You arc al at
'ractive woman. Why don't YOU get
married and have a home OF vour own >
Den't YOU know arv one YOU love
y | were j younger man would pro
pose myself. Has no man ever proposed
20 YOU Miss Flvood colored up and
replied. Yes, there IS , man. only one
msn J ever loved. sud tnat would
marry. but re never proposed. 7 asked
Who Is that man and she inforrre>
ne. IS She blushed, that | was the
man
81 Stokes did not remember the
1ats Of this conversation. but knew il
vas several days before he bought
ing at TitIsnN Continuing his tea.
tiruonv, Mr.. Stokes said he explained
70 his future wifc that his financial
Affairs we're n.t no eatlsfactorv cond-
ton ard that he could allow her only
$500 month. lie also explained that
hs had arranged to givo the Hotel An
sonia 10 his son. " 4. y. Stokes ir.
Re added that he told Miss Flvood that
i she vas willing to take care Of his
son and be satished with $500 4 month
he would marry her. Miss tlwood. &C
cordinc to MI stokes. said that al
she wanted was home and husband
and that $500 a month would be ample.
Ny. Stokes denied the story Of Mrs
Stokes that he had promised her 81 300
month and one-third Of the income
from the Ansonia. He viii continue his
testimony tomorrow. when he will be
examined by Samuel IntermYer
counsel for Mrs. Stokes
Frederick L. Soaring. formerly man
eger Of the Ansoria and also the
rotary public who took Mrs Stokess
scknou ledgment of the disputed deed
under which Mr Stokes Transferred his
property, vas = witness He said he
had no reason to believe that MIR. and
Mrs. Stokes we've on bad terms at the
time. and added his own opinion OF
Mrs. Stokes
4 considered that Mrs stokes was a
well trained social rlrato, he said.
He translated the racterization
"eocial pirate" q "ore Of brood that
preys on rich men Mr.. Soaring ad
n,itted he had nothing on which 10
base his opinion of Mrs. Stokes.
As to the a.gning OF the deed by Mrs
Stokes. the witness said that he took
her signature when she was in the din
Ing room OF her suite and told her he
wanted her 70 understand What She was
signing. Only the two were present, he
said.
Mrs. Stokes contends that She did
not Know tie nurport Of the parer.