from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)—issue of Thursday, October 5, 1899—page 8, columns 3-4:
[Suits for Divorce]
Delphia A. Shanklin asks for a divorce from Clarence E. Shanklin and recites an unusual story of woe. They were married in September 1897 and lived together until in September 1899. They have one child, still nursing at the breast. September 9th, 1899, she and her husband went on a short visit to her father, Irenous Isenhour, near Whitestown. The next day, it is alleged, the husband, without giving notice of his intention to abandon his wife, took the infant under the pretense of taking it [for] a ride, promising to return in a few hours. He did not return nor send the child back. She is uninformed where her husband is but is informed that he has abandoned her. He had placed the child in his father's care near Trader's Point and the child is now in his possession. On September 20th, plaintiff went to the husband's father's house in search of her husband and child but the family refused to permit her to have said child or to touch or caress it and John Shanklin unlawfully struck the plaintiff and still keeps the child. The husband is roving about the country. He has treated her cruelly, has an ungovernable temper, has failed to provide properly for her, is worth about $500. She asks for a divorce, the custody of the child, $300 alimony and an order forbidding the defendant [from] selling his property. The court has directed the defendant to bring the child in to court October 12th and he is restrained from disposing of his property.