Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-06
KESSLER CONVICTED DESPITE,
100000 BRIbE OFFERED BY
DESPERATE BO0TLECGER RING
IN new
ATTEMPT TO UPSET
COURTS DECISION

New York, Dec. 5-James A. Still
man made another effort today to
overthrow supreme court decisions
denying him divorce and uphold
ing the legitimacy of Baby Guy
Stillman. The court reserved deci-
sion after hearing foll hours argu-
ment.
His attorneys appear ed before the
Appellate Sivision of the Supreme
court in Brooklyn and argued that
the decisions. rende.cd by Sup:e lie
Court Justice -Morschauser en-
recommendation of referee. were
rendered after letters alleged 10 have
been written by ms. StilIman to
Fred Beauvais, Indian guild; CO.
respondent, were thrown out of the
record.
Former Governor Nathan L. Mil
Ter, chief counsel for the banker,
centered his attack on the admisSi
bility of these letters as evidence,
declaring that they were tile back
bone of the case" He maintained
that their authenticity had been
proved in diverse ways and that the
referee had erred in ruling them
out.
Isaac Mills, counsel for Mrs. Still
man, denied, however, that the let
ters had been written by the bank
ers wife, declaring they had been
written by Beauvais. Mr.. Miller. a
short time before. had admitted that
the bankers attorneys mad paid the
Indian guide $4,000 for several of
the letters.
Mr.. Miller spent two hours in a
lengthy review of the entire litiga-
ton. He asserted that early in 1918,
280 days before Guys birth the fol-
lowing November, Beauvais joined
Mrs. Stillman at her country home
at Pleasantville, n. Y, at her tele-
graphic request Although she said
she brought him from Canada to
chop wood. because of a labor short
age, Mr.. Miller declared she housed
him in her home and not in the SER
wants quarters. No other members
of the family were with Mrs. Still
man during the Indians stay, Mr..
Miller declared.
After visiting with Beauvais in
Canada in February of the same
year, he added, Mrs. StilIman the
following month visited doctors in
Boston. Buffalo, and Providence,
seeking relief.
DIR. Russell, Buffalo osteopath,
testified before the referee that Mrs
Stillman told hinf that Beauvais was
the father of her expected child" Mr..
Miller declared. DIR. Russell also
testified that Mrs. Stillman told him
she had written this fact to Mr.. Still
man. The referee ruled out the let
ter (the SCALED confession Lottery
and DR.. Russel's testimony on the
ground that they were privileged
communications and necessary to the
doctor in his treatment of her men,
tai trouble. The doctor has denied
that such communications were nee
essary.
THE letter she wrote is here. She
does confess she was going to have
an Indian baby. OF course, it was
confidential. but when she published
it to the doctor we insist that the
fact that she wrote it removes the
seal of confidence"
He defended the purchase of the
letters from BeauvaiS, declaring
payment of money for them does
not change the meaning of them"
and concluded:
THE wrong that has been done
Stillman can never be erased. Shall
the court adjudicate fraud? Shall
the son of an Indian pass as a child
of white blood?"
''Beauvais had been bought long
before the letters he sold had been
introduced" Mr.. Mills declared sin
answering Mr.. Miller. "Beauvais is
the author of these letters. One has
but to read them and their crudities
and misspelled words to learn that
Mrs. Stillman, an educated and re-
fined woman, could never have writ
ten them"