Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-15
MILLIONS BACK DIVORCE
Wealthy Wife aud Rioh Husband Zach Seek
Freedom from Dakota Courts.
MOTHER NEATLY KONAPs YOUNG SON
Both sides Trick other, USING Every
Legal Means 20 Trip Those Con-
Quoting Opposing Cases and
Make Road Hard.

SIOUX FALLS, s. D., June ~14-(Special.)
The commencement of a suit for divorce
In the local courts by Della Whitman, wife
Of Joseph H. Whitman. a capitalist and
heavy landowner of Chicago. who Is a resi-
dent OF Sioux Falls. adds another chapter
to a case which seems to develop more
than the usual number of sensations.
one of the features was the kidnapping by
the mother a few lays ago of the s-year-
old son of the couple, who has been living
with his father in this city. AS a climax
to his matrimonial troubles Whitman sue
ceeded in securing afndavits from some of
the neighbors questioning the sanity Of his
wife, and an order which compels the
mother to bring the son back to Sioux Falls
until the divorce is determined.
The wife played a neat trick on her hus-
band by putting in an appearance in Sioux
Falls and commencing a suit for divorce
herself before he could do so.
Ties Up Husbands
By insttuting the suit Mrs. Whitman has
tied up all his property, so no will be un-
able to transfer such Of it as Is within the
jurisdiction Of the South Dakota courts
until \ decree is granted or rejected in the
divorce suit.
A few days ago Mrs. Whitman, who lives
on one of the aristocratic boulevards of
Chicago, arrived in Sioux Falls. She was
accom- Panied by a sister. They proceeded
to the home of Mr.. Whitman, where they
were kindly received. The wife and her
sister announced that they would remain
in Sioux Falls for a week or ten days to
visit the boy. The two women. it is said,
made themselves so agreeable that they
completely hoodwinked Whitman, who was
the official custodian of his son.
When It was suggested by the mother and
her sister that they take the boy downtown
consent was readily forthcoming from the
father. AS hour after hour rolled around
and they did not return he realized that he
had been duLed and Instituted a search for
the missing trio.
No trace of the two women and the boy
could be found around the railroad stations.
No liveryman had seen them. No one had
seen any persons answering their descrip-
ton on any of the highways leading out of
the city. Their disappearance apparently
was as complete as IL the Garth had opened
and swallowed them.
Hides in Local Hotel.
II has just been learned that instead of
attempting to leave the city at once, as
some might nave done, the two women and
their little charge proceeded to a local hotel,
where they kept in close confinement until
a day or two ago. when a closed hack drove
up to the hotel and the women and boy
got in.
The horses were started on a run and
! kept that gait until the crossing of the
Rock Island railroad was reached, where
the three took the train.
Although the complaint and other papers
in the divorce suit of Mrs. Whitman have
been removed from the office of the clerk
of courts, enough is known of the case to
warrant the belief that one of the grounds
upon which the divorce is asked for is fail
ure to provide for the needs OF the wife and
child.
1t is said that Mrs. Whitman once before
separated from her husband on account of
an alleged penuriousness, a reconciliation
afterward being effected.
Mrs. whitman is said to be wealthy in
her own right. while her sister. who has in
terested herself in the case in behalf of
Mrs. whitman and her child. is reputed to
be worth 100000. so It is probable the
legal warfare between the couple will be
strenuous.