New Britain herald., 1925-03-06
STOKES RELATES
 HIS LONG PROBE
Tells Of Tracing His Wife and
 Her Reputation

Chicago, March 6,--1te trial of w. F. D. Stokes, wealtss New York hotel owner, and Robert Lee, Chi cago negro, on charges of conspiring to defame Mrs. Stokes to further his unsuccessful New York divorce suit, was resumed today with the aged defendant on the stand for the third day
 He continued his story Of the three-ycar investigation designed to show Mrs. Stokes formerly was an inmate Of the Everlcigh club, a Chicago resort, efforts interpreted by the state as conspiracy to mar his wifes reputation.
 Tells of Discoyerlc"
 In his first days testimony Mir. Stokes related episodes in his New York home which led to his lcay- ing Mrs. Stokes and yesterday cov- cred the start of his investigation in September. 1920, after he had ob- tained many affidayts relating 10 Mrs. Stokes.
 W. c. Dannenberg, Chicago de- tcctive, was employed by Mir. Stokes but quit in a few days, the witness said, upon information that he had heen employed previously by Mrs, Stokes. Dannenbcrg recommended F.. ". Altz. another Chicago detcc- tive. who was employed, Mr. Stokes said.
 Mrs. Stokes has a different shade Of red hair now from that which she had when she lived with him, Stokes said. He said he told Atz that he probably would not rec ognize Mrs. Stokes If he were to pass Ter on the streets He said that Mrs. Stokes hair when she lived with him had showed distinct tnges of grey at the temples, and the grey was not discernible when he faced Mrs. Stokes in the court room few days ago.
 If Vase Could Talk.
 At this point C. r. Rathbun, MT. Stokes attorney, introduced as eyi- dence a vase from the Everleigh club. Mir. Stokes testified ycstcr- day that he purchased the vase for s1o from the housekeeper of the club short time ago.
 "She said Oh if that vase could . but talk, it could tell you the whole story of the murder of (mentioning the name ofe prominent Chicago , merchant, said to have been slain in the club. It was in this room he was killed
 Stokes objected that the vase was not in the same condition as when he purchased 1t, in that the top was missing. It was a small affair, about eight inches tall, with handles on both sides,
 He detailed his conversations with and instructions to Altz and then jumped to a conversation with a Mrs. McKenna in New York, at whose place Mrs. Stokes lived for a time. Mrs. McKenna told him, he said, that Mrs. Stokes conduct was all right except when she ran around with young fellow some" ." Next was detailed a conversation with Dr. Rosenberg, former house physician at the Everleigh club, in which MT. Stokes said that the doc tor demanded and was offered $25,- 900 for sufficient information to en- able Stokes to obtain New York divorce. The witness said he had refrained from expressing his opin- ion about child pictured as sitting {, on Mrs. Stokes knee in photo- graph he had shown many persons. The picture of the child, declared by Mrs. Arthur Miller, mother ol Mrs. Stokes, to be her grandchild Raymond Sargent, was alleged tc have been termed by MT. Stokes that of a negro child born to Mrs, Stokes
 Stokes apparently had reached the end of his long story. but his coun' sel urged him to think if there was anybody else he had discussed the club matter with.
 Tells of Others
 "Yes," he said, there was Chi. CdEQ dhlOlllODllb uGdlCI ldlhtN with about motor car"
 Anybody olse?" asked Rathbun "Yes, Lorraine Wood," Mr. Stoke said, mentioning a Chicago woman he said yesterday he had talkcl with.
 Review Of the conversation will her was halted by objection by Mil ton D. Smith, assistant states attor ney, on inc ground that it was GOV cred yesterday.
 Mrs. Stokes and her mother agai, were not in the courtroom. Mrs Stokes said yesterday that she prob ably would not be in court agail while Mr. Stokes was on the stand as she was afraid his testimon would anger her. She said she prob ably would return to court after h left the stand.
 Stokes said he was told that h should see Jack Chenault, describe to him as negro but, said NJ Stokes, he refused 10 look up Chen ault, saving that he knew the Ken lucky Chenauts, that they live near his Lexington farm, and tha they all were white persons.
 MT. Stokes, did you ever sho' pictures 10 anybody telling ther they were colored pictures, and tha they came out Of Mrs. Stokes d bum ?" asked Rathbun.
 MT. Stokes replied in the mega tive.
 MT. Rathbun, l just remembere