Evening star., 1949-11-09
Mrs. Stewart
Tells Story Of
Hotel Meetinq
Admits Going to Room
But Says 1t Was on
Business for Husband

But Says 1t Was on
Business for Husband
Mrs. Betty Ann Stewart today
admitted from a District Court
witness stand that she went to a
Chicago businessman Mayflower
Hotel rooms late at night but, she
explained, her purpose was to
further her husbands chances for
q better job.
The pretty former hostess Of a
model home here is being sued for
an absolute divorce by Johnston
Fraser Stewart. former congress
sional legal adviser. The trial is
in its third day before Judge F.
Dickinson Let's.
In today's early stages of ques-
tioning by her attorney, ROLAND
G. Lamensdorf, Mrs. Stewart
maintained complete composure
as she told of her reasons for
meeting James H. Higgins of Chi
cago, identified AS an official of
the Inland Rubber Corp, in his
Mayflower rooms on two occasions
in 1948. This was about nine
months after her marriage to Mr..
Stewart. ......
Tells Of Meeting in Lobby.
However, as her lawyer began
getting her version Of the hotel
incidents. previously described by
two private detectives hired by
her husband. Mrs. Stewart began
choking back sobs and dabbing at
her eyes with a handkerchief.
She explained to the court that
she met Mr.. Higgins and two
friends in the Mayflower lobby at
about 10:30 pm. on June is. 1948.
She added that all went to Mr..
Higgins room where they had
sandwiches and drinks, after
which the two friends departed.
Mrs. Stewart testified she then
sat at a desk and wrote notes on
her husbands qualifications for a
better job. II had started them
at home and wanted to give them
to Mr.. Higgins to. take back to
some Chicago auto manufacturers
who might be interested in giving
my husband q jc5," she explained.
Says Both Were Clothed.
Shortly after she began her note
writing. she continued, Mr. Hig-
gins received a telephone call.
whereupon he prepared to leave
in order to meet two men friends
elsewhere.
1T was while Mr.. Higgins was
changing his shirt in the bath
room and I was seated at the
writing desk when there came a
knock on the door," Mrs. Stewart
testified. This, according to. the
wife and earlier testimony. was a
party which included two private
detectives and Mr.. Stewart. Where
the latter witnesses had testified
they burst into the room and
found Mr.. Higgins clad only in an
undershirt. and bed clothing
mussed up. Mrs. Stewart indig-
nantly asserted today: "Mr. Hig-
gins was fully clothed except for
his dress shirt. I was fully clothed,
as we'll.
She then further contradicted
earlier testimony by her husband S
witnesses by stating that the in
truders did not force open the
door and by charging that one OF
the detectives. Perry Bonner,
"yanked up the bed clothes and
threw them on the floor" saying
to her, "All your husband wants
is grounds for a divorce"
Charges Husband Sought Money.
Mrs. Stewart added that later in
the week. her husband approached
her and said: Higgins ought to
give me plenty of money-thou-
sands OF dollars.
Mrs. Stewart further declared
breaking into tears. that at one
meeting her husband begged" her
for and out-of-court settlement
'for several thousand dollars"
In his first defense move yester-
day, Attorney Lamensdorf pro-
duced a witness in an effort to
show that Mr.. Stewards legal resi-
dence is in New Jersey instead of
the District. The lawyer has
argued that the case is not being
tried in the proper jurisdiction.
In her counter-suit for a linn
tied divorce, charging cruelty.
Mrs. Stewart contends that. al
most Immediately after her mar
riage, her husband spent "all his
week ends and holidays in New
Jersey with his parents, leaving
her in Washington.
She also charged, in her suit,
that on the wedding night, Sep
tember 22. 1947. Mr.. Stewart in
formed her that she, as a hostess
In an exhibit house here. would
have to support them both until
he could return to New Jersey
and get sufficient salary" for
both.
Mrs. Stewart lives at 1915 Sew
enteenth street NV, while her
husband gives a different address
in the same block.
Woman Held in Theft