The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-30
Third Smack In Vandeventer
Trial Is Hotly Contested.
Three Alleged Correspondents
Follow Musician to ssChair."
HUBBY INTRODUCES PICTURES
Wife Had Mania for ''Bay Win
dow Tummies," His Claim.
Emphatic Adjectiyes During
Testimony Censored by Judge.

Two of the five alleged co-respon-
dents in the Vandeventer divorce suit
have kissed Mrs. Matilda Vandeven-
ter. the correspondents and Mrs. Van.
deventer admitted this morning. as
the second day began in the hotly con-
tested divorce trial of John r. Vande-
venter. S43 Oakland avenue. "the hus-
band who works nights,
One of the kisses was bestowed
upon Mrs. Vandeventer by Ed Bus
bee, one of the soldier boys named as
deventer. his wife and Busbee admit
ted. was taken by Busbee as he was
bidding farewell before leaving for the
front.
The second kiss was given to Ell
wood Parkinson and 1t, too. was
farewell at the station before Parkin-
son left for his command when he
was in the army. This kiss, unlike
the Btsbee osculation. was resented
by the husband. testimony showed,
and he grabbed Parkinson by the arm.
A fight was averted by Parkinson
apologizing, according to testimony.
Parkinson roomed at the Vandeven-
ter home over the husbands protest,
so Vandeventer testified. Parkinson
described his relations to Mrs. Vande-
venter as that of a step-son to a step
mother. He denied that his step ever
slipped. Busbee told the court that he
had known Mrs. Vandeyenter ever
since their childhood and that she was
like a sister to him.
Third Kiss Disputed.
Then, there was third kiss hotiy
contested this morning by husband
and wife. A niece of Vandeventer
testified that she saw Mrs. Vandeven-
ter kiss James Parks. 17-year-old
neighbor boy named as a co-respon-
dent. while the two were in the Van
deventer kitchen together. This kiss
the wife enaphatically denied.
Oral and written testimony blythe
wagon loads were thrown into court
by witnesses from both sides ranging
from girls hardly in the flapper age
to aged neighbors with sharp. suspi-
cious eyes. The written testimony in
cluded sentences and phrases ascribed
to Mrs. Vandeventer which witnesses
refused to utter aloud, in court. any
way. So Judge James A. Mcclure re-
quested them to write it out They
did.
There were camera pictures dis
played in court by Vandeventer of Mrs.
Vandeventer in an alleged semi-com-
promising position with James Parks.
whom she describes as "a big kid" on
a picnic with other young folks, which
picnic was held by country road
while Vandeventer was sleeping in the
daytime.
"Step-motherly and Sisterly."
All, excepting one of the five men
named as correspondents, have been
on the witness stand. Parkinson and
Busbee described their relations with
Mrs. Vandeventer as step-motherly
and sisterly, respectively. The Parks
boy admitted visiting at his neigh
bor's home, but declared a statement
accredited to him about a married
woman being crazy about him" as re-
,, ferring to another instance in his
young life.
Vandeventer took the stand at a
later hour He spoke of his wife
cursing in front of the children, and
then in court prefixed his answers to
questions by his attorney thusly:
Hell, yes and Hell. no."
Then, Judge Mcclure explained that
such emphasis was not necessary.
Vandeventer confined himself there
after to yes" and mo"
Vandeventer told the court he often
! reproached his wife for her alleged
entertaining habits with the five
young men named as correspondents.
near-hysterics as "damed fits which
he later referred to as fits follow
| ing the requested withdrawal of undue
emphasis from his statements.
Those Unathletc Tummies.
vandenter told the court his wife
admitted a weakness in liking men
with unathletic or protruding stom-
achs. Cavanaugh, musician and tat
! ter, was blessed, or cursed, (as you
wish) with an extensive spread near
the waist line. Vandeventer stated.
"She explained to me she liked a
! man with a fat stomach and just
! couldn't resist kind O. tweeking or
! tickling him on the stomach at break
fast that morning" Vandeventer testi-
| fled.
| Gee" said McKeever. I'm that
way, too, but I'm across the table"
/ And so, the Vandeventer trial con-
| tinues merrily on its way. 1t may end
| in the next twelve hours. Vande-
venter wants the divorce and the chill
| dren- So does Mrs. Vandeventer.
Each is endeavoring to prove the other
| isn't a fit person to care for the two
cute. little kids who play around the
court room, excepting when testimony
| becomes too risque and attorneys re-
] quest that they be taken to some other
I place.
| Oakland husbands continue to eat
cold lunches and dinners. Wives and
daughters of a goodly number are al
/ the trial.