History and Genealogy of Polk County, Iowa
Polk County, Iowa Divorces Mrs. [Ventura] Conrad Divorce case is settled: Mrs. Ventura Conrad Given Custody of Child She Kidnapped Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 14 - The famous Ventura divorce case, involving a kidnapping, was decided finally by Judge McVey, in the district court here today, when Mrs. Ventura Conrad was given the custody of her child, Lillian. Five years ago Mrs. Ventura secured a divorce from Professor Louis D. Ventura, but he was given the custody of the child and took her to California. Mrs. Ventura later married E.A. Conrad of Minneapolis and kidnapped the child. Then she sought a modification of the divorce decree, the court deciding in her favor. The divorce case attracted widespread attention. Among the dispositions taken were those of Governor Cummins, Mrs. Phoebe Hearst and William Dean Howells, the author. [The Spokesman-Review, Feb. 15, 1903 pg. 4, submitted by Robyn Greenlund] Copyright © Genealogy Trails All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.