Evening star., 1949-11-10
Mrs. Stewart Admitte,
Adultery, Attorney
Tells Divorce Trial

Roger j. Whlte1ord, widely
known member Of the Washington
bar, testified In the Johnston
Fraser Stewart divorce suit today
that Mrs. Stewart admitted COM
hitting adultery with James H.
Higgins Of Chicago on the night of
June II. 194S.
As the case moved toward its
close in Judge F. Dickinson Let's
division Of the District Court,
there was also testimony that Mrs.
Betty Ann Stewart, had occupied
an apartment at 1915 Seventeenth
street NV. with q man named
Robert w. Fowler.
Mr.. Stewart, attorney and for
mer Congressional legal adviser,
is suing for absolute divorce and il
charging adultery. In q separate
suit, yet to be tried, his wife Is
seeking q limited divorce on
grounds Of cruelty.
Mr.. Whiteford. . friend Of Mr.
Stewart. testified that on June 18
194S, he said to Mrs. Stewart
There isn't any doubt. is there
that you did commit adultery, with
Mr.. Higgins last night?" - ~, /.
He quoted Mrs. Stewart as 10
plying THAT is true. I only did 4
m heip< by husband = ,s;.s, s., s
Came 70 once.
Mr., Whiteford said he remarkes
To- Mrs. Stewart, .sThis isn't TIL
frst TIME that happened. weren'
|y6lp Win him Ia New York;"
The witness said that he d1s
tnot recall MIS- Stewart Admittinl
she committed any act In New
York but that she replied: "Hov
did you know about that?"
Mr. Whiteford said that. Mrs
Stewart came to his ofiice the
morning after the June II episode
when Mr.. Stewart, his attorney
Harry Ryan, and Perry Bonner, &
private detective. were there.
He said Mrs. Stewart came into
the room where the other three
were and kept saying. Won't you
take me back?''
II said you have already ad-
mitted to me you were wrong
last night Mr.. Whiteford testi-
fled and he added that the nexi
move was up to Mr.. Stewart.
Suddenly in some outburst she
tainted, or at least fell down or
the floor in circumstances thai
looked like fainting." Mr. White
ford said.
Mrs. Stewart took the stand
and testified that she received
telephone calls threatening her
but she said 1t was Mr.. Bonner,
voice. Asked whether her husband
had teiephoned, she replied. "a
don't know my baby's voice.,
Mr.. Stewart, on the other hand
referred to her coldly, Is "the
I 20 = 8. =
defendant.
Mrs. Stewart testified she wa.
engaged to Robert w. Fowler ans
that the apartment was leased II
Mr.. Fowler's name in anticipa,
ton Of their marriage.
1t was brought out that Mr.
Fowler. later married some mn
else.
Otha Edward Jackson, colorel
engineer ut the apartments-ths
Croyden-testif1ed that he knew
Mrs. Stewart as Mrs. Fowler anC
that Mr.. Fowler also resided ir
Apartment $40.
Leased to Two Adults.
Later a woman employe Of the
real estate company which man.
ages the apartment said the lease
was made to Mr.. Fowler on Au-
gust 1S, 1941. for occupancy by
two adults. She testified that
after there had been Z report OF
disorder at the apartment, q let
ter was written to Mrs. Fowler
and that Mr.. and Mrs. Fowler
called at the real estate office
and gave assurance that there
would be no occasion for COM
plaint again.
Highlight of MIS- Stewart Z
testimony yesterday was 4 point
blank denial Of any misconduct
on her part. In answer to q di-
rect question put by ROLAND c.
LIamensdorf. her attorney, Mrs,
Stewart said:
i have never committed adult
cry with, Mr.. Higgins or. any other
man. I am passionately In love
with my husband =
h Mrs. Stewart insisted that her
only purpose In visiting Mr.. Hig-
gins ia his hotel room was to get
him to use his influence Ia getting
Il. u. -