Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-10-25
The Millilen Case For Posses
sion of a Little Girl on at
Eldora Today
PENDING FOR OVER "A YEAR
Parents of the Child Have Been Di.
vorced, But the Child Has Been
Subject of Bitter controversy-For-
ty Witnesses Summoned to Testify
Today.
pecial to Times-Republlcan.

Special to Times Republican.
EIdora, Oct. 25.-The case of Mill
ken VS.. Milliken was begun yesterday
afternoon before Judge j. r. Whitaker.
This suit has been pending over year
and involves a controversy between
the father and mother of Myrtle Bar
lara Milliken, their little daughter,
now years of age. The divorce was
granted the parents year ago and all
matters were adjusted except the care
of the little girl and this contention
has been before each term of court for
the past year. Each Judge has made
some order concerning the rights of
the parties, but these orders have been
temporarily only.
Flavel Milliken, the father, is man
about 10 years of age, and do
farmer in Jackson township. Mary
Milliken, the mother, is about 40 years
of age. and is now conducting milli-
merry store at Iowa Falls, to which city
she moved at the time Of the separa-
court heretofore, has permitted the lit
tie girl to be kept at the home of John
Milliken, "a brother of the plaintiff and
whose farms are adjoining. The order
also provided that the mother might
receive visit of half day each month
from her daughter, and should give
reasonable notice to the father when
she wished this visit to occur. The
father is objecting to the care Of the
daughter being given to the mother for
two reasons, one that he desires to
have her with him, and the other is
the claim that the mother
is of unsound mind and un-
fit to care for her. On the other hand
the mother is absolutely unwilling to
surrender the custody of the child TO
the father to be kept on the farm, and
AYERS that he is not fit person to
have her custody and care intrusted to
him. Yesterday afternoon about forty
witnesses We're present from the vicin-
.ity of Ackley and Iowa Falls to testify
as to the qualifications of the parents
for giving the child careful nurture
and care.
Raverend Doctor Hugh McNinch.
asc'5law testified that he had observed
matters when he had called at the
M,lliken home that confirmed his be-
lief that the motler was not qualified
to rive the dare htar rl1e hest &C -
he said that all parties to the case be-
longed TO his congregation ans as ~
siaareEl the father BITTER qualified ito
care for her than the mother When
pressed on cross examination for the
particulars he had observed he refused
to- answer, insisting on his privilege as
minister.
Doctor Carver, of Iowa Falls. testi-
fed that her office was in the same
building as the millinery store of Mrs.
Millikeri and that they saw each other
almost daily. The doctor said she had
never observed any thing in the con-
duct of Mrs. Milliken that indicated
that she was of unsound mind. She
had, however, observed the peculiar
staring appearance in her eyes and con-
tinuing smile when Mrs. Milliken
would greet person. She did not
think this indicated unsoundness of
mind. She stated that Mrs. Milliken
was always telling her that she hoped
to be able to secure the custody of her
daughter in order to have her and to
educate her. The matter of the liti-
CATION seemed to be continually on her
mind.
John Milliken testified that he was
giving Myrtle home at his house, and
she received the same care his own
child receives. She has just started to
school and he did not think her mother
was a proper person to have her care.
Other witnesses testified that Mrs.
Milliken was an unsafe person to have
the custody of the child. Her trouble
is called paranoia, which indicates an
unhealthy condition of the mind
wherein the patient may appear to be
pleasan yet at the same time will be
inclined to do injury to her best
friends. The case will probably con-
sumo the attention of the court ali of
today.