The San Francisco call., 1903-01-14
vENTURAS
STRIVE FOR
THE CHILD
Divorced Wife's Appli-
cation Comes Up in
Des Moines.
Evidence Includes Afidavits
From Many Persons
Of Note.
Professor Renews Allegations of In
discreet Conduct on the Part
Of His Former
Spouse.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

DES MONIES, Ia, JAN ia stack OF
affidavits nearly foot high was depos-
tied on the desk of Judge McVey in the
District Court to-day and arguments were
begun for and against the application of
Mrs. Jeanette Conrad for the possession
of Lillian Ventura, a pretty Miss of 9
years, technically in the custody of her
father, Professor Louis D. Ventura of
San Francisco, but actually in that of
Mrs. Conrad, formerly Mrs. Ventura
The affidavts submitted to Judge McVey
include the signatures and sworn state
ments of Governor Cummins of Iowa,
William Dean Howells, the novelist; f;
Temasse Salvini, the tragedian; Mrs
Phoebe Hearst the California phflan-
dent of Leland Stanford Jr University.
not TO mention numerous others of almost
equal note.
Ventura is a professor of languages,
formerly of Des Moines and Minneapolis
now of Leland Stanford Jr. University
and the Mount Tamalpais Military Acad-
emy of San Rafael, Cal. He and Mrs
Ventura have always travelled in the most
exclusive society and hence have been
enabled to obtain the affidavits mentioned
relative to the merits of the controversy
ALLEGATIONS OF VENTURA.
Ventura alleges that shortly after his
marriage to the plaintiff Miss Milford of
Minneapolis, he discovered that she had
been guilty of indiscreet conduct with
Otis Colburn. Milwaukee editor, and
William Aretander, a prominent Mime
apolis insurance man. He alleges other
incidents subsequent to their marriage
and mentions A. K. Conrad. her present
husband, in this connection. His former
wife denied these charges, but said they
were used to intimdate her into consent
ing TO give up the custody of her child
when the divorce was granted to her
Last summer she visited California and
kidnapped little Lillian. and to prevent her
former husband recovering possession she
brought the present suit
Ventura, in to-day's testimony alleged
that Mrs. Conrad went to California as
a delegate to the National Federation of
Women's Clubs and sought to effect
reconciliation with him, representing 10
him that she had been divorced from
wrote to him warning him that she
merely sought to kidnap the. child and
was still Conrad's wife.
MOTHER GETS THE CHILD.
Ventura finally relented sufficiently to
assist her to obtain a position as nurse
and governess and to permit her to see
the child occasionally. This eliminated
after few weeks in the abduction, after
he had finally rejected all overtures at
q reconciliation, resulting in her circu-
lating disparaging stories concerning him.
He says that following the kidnapping of
the child he sought to obtain requisition
upon the Governor of Minnesota for Mrs.
Conrad's arrest, but failed
The affidavits by President Jordan, Mrs.
Hearst, William Dean Howells and Sal
vini certify to the charming disposition
and good conduct of Ventura; also to his
ability to provide for the child and to the
fact that he was giving her a good edu-
Ca ton.
Governor Cummins, Rev. ]. e. Cathel
and other prominent men of Des Moines
and Minneapolis testify similarly of Mrs.
Ventura and allege that her husband was
of a cruel disposition
The little girl makes an affidavit i'm
which she says she prefers to live with
her mother