The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-06

y developments IN the Landretto
navorce trial in circuit court today
euit6esd about the efforts ofoppos-
~ ccanssl to settle the status OF
6loo in Liberty bonds, now being
WI ~ . Rock Island bank for the
fIIfsd States secretary OF labor
e security for Landretto in the
Seoortation proceedings against
II.
Iandretto's attorneys, in at
&p(ing to purge their client Of
1Uismpt for failing to produce the
spcsipt for the bonds, seek to
Hcw that it il not within his pow
= 10 DO 50. Counsel for Mrs. Lam
1rstto contend that the receipt for
a. Liberty bonds riEhtfully be-
knGy to their client. The matter
~ argued At length during part
4 the morning session and was
seheduled to be reconsidered by
~ court this afternoon.
Mrs. Landretto's case was COM
,leled this morning, and when the
ecutempt proceedings have been
disposed OF witnesses for Land
rstto will be called to support his
erpss-bill which charges his wife
win adultery.
A motion for the court to take
the plaintiffs case from the jury
vsS made by Landretto's attorneys,
bat after extensive arguments the
eoIrt overruled the matter.
Mrs. Landretto was recalled to
The stand this morning by counsel
for her husband. In answer to
questions she said she came to
Rock Island in June, 1914, and
about two months later became
identified with the Edith Ortell
house of prostitution. She denied
that she had ever gone under the
name OF Rose Ross in Detroit and
was arrested there on prostitu-
ton charge, declaring she had
gone to st. Louis from Rock Island.
Edward l.. Eagle. assistant
states attorney, testified In con-
nection with the contempt proceed
ings. He declared the receipt for
the Liberty bonds had been given
to him by Mrs. Landretto and a
representative of the United States
immigration bureau as retainer
and security for attorney fees due
him in defending Landretto against
the deportation charges. He said
he had no intention of releasing his
hold ON the receipt. Mr.. Eagle
first represented Landretto in his
cross-bill for divorce, but said he
formally withdrew his connection
In March, 1922.
Claims He's without Funds.
Judge N. A. Larson declared the
question to be answered in at
tempting to purge Landretto OF
contempt was whether the defend
ant had made any effort to obtain
the receipt, or taken cognizance at
oil OF the order of court. To this
end the court called Landretto him.
self to the stand and subjected him
70 a series OF questions. Landretto
mid he had mentioned the order to
Mr.. Eagle on the day it was issued,
and that MIR. Eagle told him he
would go into court and show that
LAndretto could not comply with
the order.
H. A. Weld, one Of the attorneys
representing Mrs. Landretto, took
up the quiz Of Landretto with re-
spect to the defendants state of
finances at this time. TO determine
whether it was not possible for him
70 settle with Mr. Eagle and thus
release the receipt.
Landretto protested to be- with
out any funds whatsoever except
that represented by. a mortgaged
automobile used by him as taxi
cab. He said he had never had an
understanding with Mr.. Eagle as
70 the amount Of attorney fees, hav-
ing left that matter to the Gdscre-
ton OF the attorney when the case
Is finally settled.
Willis H. Clark Of st. Louis, an
other Of Mrs. Landretto's attor-
neys, informed the court that the
rules and regulations of the United
Statesfdepartment Of labor restrict
attorney fees in deportation mat
ters to not more than $40, and this
only in exceptional cases. The pur-
pose Of questioning Landretto rel
alive to his financial standing was
% determine whether he could set
We with Mr.. Eagle and remove the
only barrier to the release of the
Liberty bond receipt. The state
nent Of Mr.. Clark with respect to
Inc maximum attorney fees in de-
poftation matters was made a mat
ter Of record.
Among the interested spectators
q the morning session was Mrs.
Faith Ortell. 1t is understood Mrs.
vrtell Is to be star witness for
LAndretto's side of the case. The
"nsideration Of the contempt pro-
Heo'ngs delayed her call to the
simess stand, but it was predicted
loon.